Cubs Minor League Wrap: Smokies roll past Trash Pandas, 4-1

The Iowa Cubs were swept in a doubleheader by the Saint Paul Saints (Twins), 6-0 and 5-4.

Grant Kipp started game one and gave Iowa three strong innings with no runs and no hits. He did walk three batters, however, while striking out four.

Hoby Milner relieved Kipp as part of his rehab assignment and he took the loss. Milner gave up two runs on three hits over just two-thirds of an inning. Milner also hit a batter, although he didn’t walk any. Milner struck out one.

Shelby Miller pitched the seventh inning in his rehab stint and allowed one run on two hits and a walk. Miller did not strike anyone out.

Iowa had six hits in game one and first baseman BJ Murray had three of them. Murray was 3 for 4 with a double.

Third baseman Owen Miller was 2 for 4 with a steal.

Iowa went 0 for 10 with runners in scoring position in game one.

Andrew Wantz started game two and pitched the first two innings, giving up two runs on four hits. Wantz walked three and struck out two.

Tyler Ferguson gave up three runs in the top of the sixth inning and took the loss. Ferguson’s final line was three runs on three hits and a walk over one inning. He did not have a strikeout.

Iowa scored four runs in the first inning and then the bats went silent. DH Owen Ayers hit a solo home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his second Iowa home run and 24th overall. Ayers went 1 for 2 with a walk.

Three batters later, catcher Ethan Hearn hit a three-run home run. It was Hearn’s third home run in Triple-A and seventh overall. Hearn went 1 for 3.

Ayers’ home run.

Hearn’s blast.

The Knoxville Smokies grounded the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 4-1.

Brooks Caple started and picked up his fourth win. Caple pitched 5.1 innings and surrendered just one run on five hits. He walked three and struck out four.

Tyler Ras pitched the ninth inning and got the save. He hit a batter with one out, but that was the only baserunner he allowed. Ras did not have a strikeout.

Left fielder Andy Garriola was most of the offense, going 3 for 4 with an RBI double in the third inning. Garriola also scored one run.

Second baseman Alex Madera had a two-run single in the second inning. He went 2 for 3.

Madera’s two-run single.

The South Bend Cubs were stuffed by the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), 7-4.

Pierce Coppola started and took the loss after he allowed four runs on three hits over three innings. One of those hits was a two-run home run. Coppola walked three and struck out two.

Shortstop Angel Cepeda hit a solo home run in the first inning, his fifth with South Bend and sixth overall. Cepeda went 2 for 5 with a double and the home run. He scored twice.

Left fielder Kade Snell doubled twice in a 2 for 4 game. Snell tallied one RBI.

First baseman Brennan Hudson was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI.

Cepeda’s home run.

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans silenced the Hill City Howlers (Guardians), 5-1.

Riely Hunsaker dominated the Howlers for five innings, allowing just one run on two hits on the way to the win. Hunsaker struck out a career-high eight and walked just one.

Sam Mettert pitched the final 1.2 innings and picked up the save. He allowed no runs and no hits, but he did walk one while striking out two.

DH Juan Cabada hit his first Pelicans home run with a man on in the seventh inning and it was an inside-the-park version. It was his third home run overall. Cabada was a perfect 3 for 3 with the home run and he was hit by a pitch.

Cabada’s inside-the-park home run.

Here’s a nice double play by the Pelicans.