Minor League Wrap: Smokies fall to Barons on 9th inning grand slam

The whole system lost today.

The Cubs placed infielder James Triantos on the 7-day injured list. Right-handed pitcher Peter Solomon was activated off the injured list.

You know, if the major league Cubs weren’t so good, I’d be hearing it more about the struggles down on the farm.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were paved over by the Syracuse Mets, 5-4.

Peter Solomon got the start and gave up three runs on five hits over three innings. Solomon walked two and struck out three.

Nate Pearson threw the eighth inning and gave up a game-tying solo home run with two outs. Pearson also walked one and struck out one.

With the score tied in the top of the ninth, Jack Neely gave up the go-ahead run with two hits and two walks over his one inning. He walked in that run. Neely struck out one.

First baseman Jonathon Long stayed hot with a solo home run in the third inning, his ninth on the year and sixth since May 16. Long went 1 for 5 with an RBI groundout in the first inning, so two total RBI.

Catcher Carlos Pérez hit a solo home run in the eighth to give the I-Cubs a temporary 4-3 lead. It was his eighth on the year. Pérez went 3 for 4 with a walk and two total RBI.

DH Owen Caissie was 2 for 5 with a double and one run scored.

Long’s long ball.

Carlos Pérez puts the I-Cubs on top for a while.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were subjugated by the Birmingham Barons (White Sox), 8-4.

Smokies starter Sam Armstrong went five innings and gave up four runs on five hits. One of the four runs was unearned. Armstrong struck out three, walked one and hit one batter.

The score was tied 4-4 in the top of the ninth when reliever Zac Leigh lost all control. After he got out of a man-on-third and one out situation by uncorking a pitch to the back bricks that bounced right back to catcher Ethan Hearn who easily tagged out the runner trying to score, Leigh followed that up with three straight walks to load the bases. Manager Lance Rymel then summoned Cayne Ueckert from the pen who gave up a grand slam to the first batter he faced. Leigh got the loss with a line of three runs on one hit and three walks over two-thirds of an inning. He did not strike anyone out.

Catcher Ethan Hearn went 2 for 4 with a solo home run in the second inning, his third on the year. Hearn scored twice.

Second baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 3 with a walk and a game-tying two-run single in the seventh inning.

Hearn’s home run. Or at least the swing.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were mugged by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 3-1.

Kenten Egbert gave the Cubs a quality start, but got saddled with the loss anyways. Egbert allowed three runs on seven hits over 6.2 innings. Egbert struck out three and walked no one.

The only South Bend run came when shortstop Jefferson Rojas walked with the bases loaded in the fourth inning. Rojas went 1 for 4 with the walk.

Catcher Ariel Armas was 2 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans double-bogied against the Augusta GreenJackets (Braves), 4-1.

Hayden Frank started and took the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over just two innings. Frank walked one and struck out one.

The Birds had just four hits and one extra-base hit. Catcher Owen Ayers went 1 for 4 with a double.

ACL Cubs

Off day.

Just to let you know because I won’t be doing a Minor League Wrap tomorrow, but the Dominican Summer League starts play on Monday. I don’t do scores or recaps of the DSL because to be honest, the stats of 17-year-olds in their first taste of pro ball are meaningless. But if I hear/read any positive scouting reports, I’ll pass them on.