Minor League Wrap: South Bend wins game one, gets no-hit in game two

Iowa wins third-straight. South Bend wins game one and gets no-hit in game two.

South Bend shortstop Jefferson Rojas was named Midwest League Player of the Month for May. Rojas hit .337/.416/.561 with five doubles, four triples and three home runs in the month. He also stole five bases. Rojas just turned 20 in April.

The Cubs signed right-hander Jake Woodford and assigned him to Iowa. Woodruff had asked for his release from the Yankees earlier this month. Woodruff pitched for the Cardinals from 2020 to 2023 and with the White Sox and Pirates last year.

Right-hander Brooks Kriske cleared waivers and reported to Iowa.

Iowa right-hander Frankie Scalzo Jr. went to the Developmental List and right-hander Gavin Hollowell was put on the 7-day injured list.

The Cubs sent right-hander Matthew Peters down to the ACL Cubs from Low-A Myrtle Beach. No corresponding move has been made yet, but word is that exciting right-hander Jostin Florentino will be making his full-season debut with the Pelicans shortly.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 8-5.

Will Sanders moved to 2-0 after two starts in Triple-A by allowing four runs on seven hits over six innings. One of the four runs was unearned. Sanders walked one and struck out three.

Luke Little got the final four outs for the save. He retired all four batters he faced and struck out three of them.

DH Carlos Pérez hit a grand slam as part of a six-run fourth inning that upped Iowa’s lead to 8-0. It was Pérez’s ninth home run this year. Pérez was 1 for 4.

First baseman Jonathon Long just keeps smashing the ball. Today he was 3 for 4 with a walk. He drove in two runs and scored one. With the 3 for 4, Long took over the International League lead in batting average at .357.

Shortstop Dixon Machado was a perfect 2 for 2 with a double and three walks. Machado scored twice.

The Pérez slam.

An RBI single for Long.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were doused by the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 3-0.

Chris Kachmar was the starter and hard-luck loser. Kachmar allowed just two runs on six hits over five innings. Kachmar impressively struck out ten and walked no one.

The Smokies had just two hits. Catcher Pablo Aliendo was 1 for 3 with a double. Right fielder Jaylen Palmer went 1 for 3.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs split a doubleheader with the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers) winning game one on a walk-off 6-5 and suffering a seven-inning no-hitter in game two 3-0.

Tyler Schlaffer started game one and gave up just one run on three hits over five innings. Schlaffer walked two and struck out five. The only run Schlaffer allowed came on a third-inning home run.

But Vince Reilly came in to relieve Schlaffer with a 5-1 lead in the sixth and failed to retire a single batter. He walked the first three batters he faced and then gave up a game-tying grand slam.

Evan Taylor relieved Reilly and got the win in game one after tossing two scoreless innings. He gave up two hits. Taylor walked one and struck out two.

Center fielder Carter Trice led off the bottom of the first inning with a home run, his fifth on the season. Trice then walked with one out in the bottom of the seventh. He stole second, went to third on a balk and then scored on a walk-off sacrifice fly by second baseman Jefferson Rojas.

Trice was 1 for 2 with the home run, two walks and two steals. He scored three runs. Rojas was 0 for 0 with two walks and two sacrifice flies. Rojas scored one run.

Trice’s home run.

Evan Aschenbeck pitched a seven-inning complete game in game two. He allowed three runs on eight hits. Aschenbeck walked one and struck out five.

South Bend were no-hit by Eriq Swan (six innings) and Roque Gutierrez (one inning).

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blasted by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 12-1.

Kevin Valdez started and got battered for seven runs on seven hits over 2.2 innings. Valdez walked four and struck out three.

Third baseman Eriandys Ramon went 2 for 4 with a double.

Center fielder Leonel Espinoza was 2 for 4.

ACL Cubs

Losing to the Giants, 7-2 in the top of the eighth inning.

The Cubs’ 17th-round pick in 2023, Ethan Flanagan, made his professional debut in this game. Flanagan allowed three runs in three innings, but he struck out six and only walked one, which I would consider more important at this level.