Cubs Minor League Wrap: Smokies dethrone Barons, 5-1

Right-hander Grant Kipp was promoted from Double-A Knoxville to Triple-A Iowa.

Right-hander Kenten Egbert went back down to High-A South Bend after his one game in Iowa.

The Iowa Cubs were trampled to death by the Buffalo Bison (Blue Jays), 15-1.

Corbin Martin started this game as a kind of hybrid opener/bullpen game and he got the loss after giving up two runs on one hit and one walk over 1.2 innings. Martin struck out two.

Iowa managed just six hits in this game and all of them were singles. Third baseman James Triantos singled home right fielder Kevin Alcántara with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Triantos was 2 for 4. Alcántara went o for 3 with a walk.

Here’s at least a defensive highlight, courtesy of center fielder Brett Bateman.

The Knoxville Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 5-1.

Dawson Netz kept the Barons off the board for six innings, giving up just two hits. Netz struck out two and walked just one.

Catcher Owen Ayers connected for a solo home run in the top of the first inning. It was Ayers’ 20th home run this year and 14th with the Smokies. Ayers went 2 for 3 with a walk.

In the seventh inning, shortstop Ed Howard smacked his first home run of the year off the scoreboard with a man on. Howard went 1 for 4.

Second baseman Hayden Cantrelle doubled twice in a 3 for 4 night. He scored twice and had one run batted in.

Ayers’ home run.

Ed Howard’s home run.

The South Bend Cubs were hijacked by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 8-1.

Mason McGwire got the start and the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits over four innings. McGwire walked two and struck out four.

South Bend managed just four hits. Third baseman Matt Halbach and left fielder Jose Escobar hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning for the only Cubs run. Both players were 1 for 4.

Escobar’s RBI double.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans domesticated the Salem RidgeYaks (Red Sox), 5-4.

Kaleb Wing started this game, but only threw 18 pitches and one inning. Wing allowed no runs and no hits. He walked one and struck out two. I didn’t see any injury on the mound, but who knows if he mentioned something in the dugout between innings. I didn’t see any hugs either, although it was the away broadcast and they weren’t focusing on the Pelicans dugout.

David Bracho threw the next three innings and allowed three runs on seven hits. Bracho walked two and struck out two.

Next up was Edwardo Melendez, who allowed one run on two hits over three innings. Melendez walked two and struck out three.

Emilio Ramos pitched the eighth and ninth inning, did not give up a hit or a run and got the win. Ramos did walk one while striking out two.

Second baseman Alexis Hernández had a big day, going 3 for 5 with two doubles. The second double, in the top of the ninth, scored Alexey Lumpuy which broke a 4-4 tie and ended up being the winning run. Hernández had two total RBI and he scored once.

Center fielder Lumpuy went 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He also stole one base.

Catcher Jairo Diaz was 2 for 4. He scored one run and drove one in.

RBI single for Hernández.

The RBI double in the ninth.

Losing to the Brewers, 7-5 in the seventh inning.