We were supposed to have our final two affiliates take the field tonight, but South Bend was rained out.
I no longer post anything on Twitter/X. I still go over there because the affiliates are there, but I don’t post any new content. You can find me posting some stuff at Bluesky at @joshftimmers.bsky.social. I’m not quite as active there as I used to be, but I still do some updates.
Everyone wins! Well, not South Bend, but they had a good excuse.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs clipped the wings of the Louisville Bats (Reds), 7-2.
Iowa starter Will Sanders gave up a solo home run in both the first and second innings, but other than that he was quite sharp. Sanders got the win after allowing two runs on six hits over six innings. Sanders struck out seven and walked two.
Iowa manager Marty Pevey then got two scoreless innings out of Collin Snider and one out of Ryan Rolison in non-save situations to close out the game.
Iowa put this one away with a five-run second inning. DH Chas McCormick led off the inning with a solo home run, his second on the season.
After catcher Christian Bethancourt singled and center fielder Brett Bateman walked, right fielder Justin Dean singled home Bethancourt to make it 2-1.
After first baseman Jonathon Long grounded out, second baseman James Triantos crushed this three-run home run to make it 5-1. It was Triantos’ second home run of the year.
McCormick finished the game 2 for 4 with the home run and this RBI double.
Triantos went 2 for 5 with the three RBI. Long went 2 for 5 and scored once.
Second baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored once.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies defenestrated the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 8-6.
Minor League Rule 5 draftee Zane Mills made his Cubs organizational debut tonight. He pitched 3+ innings and allowed three runs on six hits. Mills walked three and struck out four.
Jace Beck relieved Mills in the fourth inning and promptly walked the first two batters and then coughed up a three-run home run to put Birmingham up 6-5. But he settled down after that and collected the win after the Smokies scored three runs in the bottom of the fifth to retake the lead. Beck’s final line was three runs on two hits and three walks over two innings. He struck out four.
Evan Taylor came on for the save in the ninth and he made it a nailbiter after a one-out walk and a two-out double. But with runners on second and third and two outs, Taylor got the strikeout to end the game. He struck out two in his one inning of work.
The third batter of the bottom of the first inning, shortstop Jefferson Rojas, clobbered this three-run home run.
Rojas went 2 for 4 with a walk. He also made this nice play on defense.
Seiya Suzuki played five innings in right field in a rehab appearance. He was 1 for 2 with a sacrifice fly. He also scored on the Rojas home run. Suzuki seemed to be moving fine to my eyes, but he wasn’t really tested out there.
DH Alexander Ramirez led off and was 2 for 3 with a double and two walks in his Cubs organizational debut. Ramirez scored twice and drove in one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 3 for 5 and scored once.
Catcher Ariel Armas went 2 for 4 with a walk and an RBI double in the eighth inning. Armas also scored on a wild pitch in the fifth.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs home opener was postponed because of unplayable field conditions. A makeup date has not been scheduled.
Kane Kepley did double in kickball.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans put a muzzle on the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 5-4.
Pelicans manager Yovanny Cuevas got three innings each from three pitchers. Starter Noah Edders allowed two unearned runs on two hits. He struck out five and walked no one.
Ben Johnson, a 17th-round pick in 2024 who missed all last season with an injury, finally got to make his professional debut in the fourth inning. Johnson gave up two runs on three hits. He struck out four and walked two.
Jordan Henriquez tossed the final three innings and got his first Pelicans win in his first game in Myrtle Beach. Henriquez held the RiverDogs to no runs and just two hits. He struck out four and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.
First baseman Cole Mathis hit a two-run home run in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in this game. It was Mathis’ second home run in as many games this year. He finished the game 1 for 4 with a walk.
In the fifth inning, DH Michael Carico tied the game up 2-2 with a solo home run.
Carico was 1 for 3 with two walks.
In the seventh inning, right fielder Josiah Hartshorn crushed his first professional home run on a ball that I still don’t think has landed. It came with the bases empty.
That is some serious power. If you’re down in South Carolina, I’d suggest getting to see Hartshorn this month because he may be in South Bend sooner rather than later.
Hartshorn was 2 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.
Shortstop Ty Southisene went 2 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy was 2 for 5 with an RBI infield single in the first inning.
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