Cubs Minor League Wrap: Owen Ayers homers in Smokies win

The Iowa Cubs got egged by the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 6-2.

Will Sanders took the loss after giving up four runs on five hits over four innings. One of the runs was unearned. Sanders struck out five and walked one.

Antoine Kelly had two perfect innings of relief, striking out two.

Left fielder Jonathon Long went 1 for 4 with an RBI double that scored right fielder Hayden Cantrelle. Cantrelle went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Long’s double.

The Knoxville Smokies pied the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 5-4.

Four Smokies pitchers combined on a one hitter. However, four errors, eight walks, a hit batter and a wild pitch led to four Columbus runs.

Evan Taylor pitched the first two innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on no hits and three walks. He struck out five.

Erian Rodriguez pitched the next three innings and gave up an unearned run on no hits.. Rodriguez did walk four while striking out one.

Yenrri Rojas gave up the only Columbus hit, along with one unearned run over one inning. Rojas walked one and struck out one.

Luke Little threw the final two innings and got the win. He retired the side in order in the eighth, but then put two on and no outs in the ninth after he hit a batter and then make a throwing error on a bunt. But Little hunkered down and retired the next three batters in order to end the game. Little had one strikeout.

Catcher Owen Ayers crushed his 21st home run of the year and 15th with the Smokies with the bases empty in the first inning. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and two runs scored.

Left fielder Carter Trice doubled twice in a 2 for 4 afternoon. He scored one run.

Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 1 for 3 with a two-run single in the fifth. He was also hit by a pitch once.

Ayers’ home run.

The two-run single by Rojas.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez doubled in a run in the bottom of the eighth that gave the Smokies the lead for good. Alvarez went 1 for 3 with a walk.

The South Bend Cubs were swept in a doubleheader from the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 1-0 and 2-0.

Jameson Taillon made a rehab start in game one and got the loss, but he allowed just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. Taillon struck out two and walked no one. He threw 45 pitches and 32 of them were for strikes.

Kevin Valdez pitched the final 2.2 innings and retired all eight batters he faced. He struck out four of them.

South Bend had just three hits in this game, all singles.

Here are some Taillon footage.

In game two, starter Alfredo Romero allowed a two-out solo home run in the bottom of the first. He didn’t give up much else, but that was enough for the loss on a day the South Bend bats stayed home. Romero’s final line was one run on two hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked just one.

South Bend had five hits in this game, all singles. Left fielder Jose Escobar was 3 for 5. He went 1 for 3 in game one.

Josiah Hartshorn was 1 for 3 with a walk in game two after going 1 for 3 in game one

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost to the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), 3-2.

Starter Noah Edders took the loss after allowing three runs on two hits and two walks over four innings. Edders did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Geri Lubo doubled in a run in the bottom of the ninth. He also walked and scored in the fifth inning. Lubo was 1 for 3 with a double and the walk.

Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy went 2 for 4.

DH Edward Vargas was also 2 for 4.

Off day.