Minor League Wrap: Shōta sings in rehab appearance for Iowa in Nashville

Shōta Imanaga has a strong rehab appearance. Porter Hodge did not. BJ Murray sends Knoxville home happy. Wins for South Bend and Myrtle Beach.

It depends on how he feels tonight and tomorrow morning, but there was nothing on the mound in Nashville today that indicates that Shōta Imanaga is not ready to return to the Cubs.

It was the first game of the second half today for South Bend and Myrtle Beach. Everyone’s record went back to 0-0 this morning.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were deafened by the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 8-5.

Shōta Imanaga started this game on a rehab assignment and threw 4.1 scoreless innings, allowing just two hits and two walks while striking out eight. Imanaga was pulled after 72 pitches, 50 of which were strikes.

Porter Hodge’s rehab appearance didn’t go as well. In fact, it was downright terrible. Hodge entered the game to start the seventh inning and got rocked for seven runs, six earned, on four hits and two walks over just one-third of an inning. The unearned run was even the result of Hodge’s own error. He did not strike anyone out.

First baseman Jonathon Long has been in a bit of a mini-slump, but he busted out today, going 4 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Center fielder Christian Franklin went 3 for 5 with an RBI infield single in the second inning.

Kevin Alcántara hit a pinch-hit two-run double in the ninth.

Imanaga highlights:

Franklin’s RBI single.

Alcántara’s double.

Knoxville Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies cracked open the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 10-6 in ten innings.

Jaxon Wiggins started this game and allowed two runs on two hits over four innings. Wiggins walked four and struck out four.

Cayne Ueckert relieved Mitchell Tyranski with the score tied and runners on first and second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Ueckert walked the first batter he faced to load the bases, but then got a fly out to send the game to extras. He allowed an unearned run in the bottom of the tenth, but got the win anyway. The final line on Ueckert was one unearned run on two hits over 1.1 innings. He walked one and did not strike anyone out.

Third baseman BJ Murray Jr. hit a grand slam in the top of the tenth that blew this game open. It was his 12th home run this season. Murray was 3 for 6 with five total RBI.

In the third inning, second baseman Pedro Ramirez hit a three-run home run, his fourth. Ramirez went 3 for 5 with a walk. Ramirez scored three times and had four total runs batted in.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 2 for 4 with a steal and a sac fly. He scored twice.

Catcher Casey Opitz was 3 for 5 with a walk.

Shortstop Corey Joyce went 2 for 5 with a double and a hit by pitch. He scored one run.

First baseman Felix Stevens went 2 for 5 with a walk.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs decommissioned the Lake County Captains (Guardians), 5-4 in ten innings.

Erian Rodriguez turned in a definitional “quality start” of three runs on seven hits over six innings. Rodriguez struck out five and walked two.

Brayden Riesdorph came on to pitch the top of the tenth and struck out all three batters he faced. He got the win when South Bend scored in the bottom of the frame.

First baseman Drew Bowser singled home automatic runner Ariel Armas in the bottom of the tenth for a walk-off win. Bowser was 2 for 5 with three total RBI. Armas went 1 for 4 with a steal.

Second baseman Jefferson Rojas led off the bottom of the first inning with his fifth home run on the year. Rojas was 1 for 4 with a walk and two total RBI.

Shortstop Cristian Hernandez went 2 for 5.

Left fielder Edgar Alvarez was 2 for 5 and scored once.

The Rojas home run.

Bowser’s walk-off.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans ruffled the feathers of Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros), 5-3.

Cole Reynolds threw the first three innings and allowed two runs on four hits. Both runs, however, were unearned. Reynolds walked one and struck out one.

Charlie Hurley pitched the next three innings and picked up his first professional win. Hurley gave up an unearned run on two hits. He walked two and struck out one.

Luis Martinez-Gomez took over for the next two innings, allowing no runs on one hit. He struck out three and walked one.

Jackson Kirkpatrick retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He struck out one.

The Pelicans scored all five runs in the fourth inning.

First baseman Matt Halbach hit a two-run home run, his fourth on the season. Halbach was 1 for 4.

Right fielder Alexey Lumpuy hit a two-run single. He was 1 for 4 with two steals.

Center fielder Leonel Espinoza went 2 for 4.

Halbach’s home run.

The two-run single by Lumpuy.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 4-2.

The Mesa Cubs have gone 11-5 since their 2-16 start to the season.