Minor League Wrap: The Jaguar stays hot in Iowa’s 10-6 win

The bats come alive for Iowa and Myrtle Beach. The pitching dies for Knoxville and South Bend.

Iowa Cubs right-hander Will Sanders was activated off the Development List. Catcher Caleb Knight went back on it.

Left-hander Jake Brentz was promoted to Double-A Knoxville from Mesa. He was signed on June 20.

When Moisés Ballesteros comes out of a game early this month, people are going to go nuts.

Nothing but blowouts today. Two good ones. Two bad ones. Feel free to skip the South Bend recap.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs calmed the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 10-6.

Will Sanders was strong in his first start since June 18. He picked up the win after giving up just one run on two hits over five innings. Sanders struck out five and walked two.

The I-Cubs had a 10-1 lead going into the top of the ninth, but Keegan Thompson and Nate Pearson had some issues closing this one out. But Pearson got the third out eventually.

Right fielder Kevin Alcántara stayed red-hot, hitting his tenth home run of the year and third in the last five games with a man on in the second inning. Alcántara went 2 for 5 and scored twice.

It probably won’t surprise you that catcher Carlos Pérez homered again, his 18th this year. It came with the bases empty in the eighth inning. Pérez went 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored twice.

Center fielder Christian Franklin was a perfect 2 for 2 with three walks and a stolen base. Franklin scored one run and drove home one.

Second baseman James Triantos went 2 for 5 with a double and a steal. Triantos scored once and had an RBI groundout in the fifth inning.

First baseman Moisés Ballesteros was 2 for 3 with an RBI double and an RBI single. He left this game early with cramping.

As 2016 Cubs (and I-Cubs) infielder Munenori Kawasaki said:

Alcántara’s blast. Seems like it went farther than 368 feet.

Double for Ballesteros.

Single for Ballesteros.

Nice defense by Triantos.

The Pérez home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were rubbish against the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 9-1.

Starter Nick Dean took the loss after allowing six runs on seven hits over 3.1 innings. Dean struck out six and walked two.

Knoxville had just four hits. Center fielder Jordan Nwogu was 2 for 4 with an RBI single, driving in second baseman Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez went 1 for 4 with one run scored.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs went extinct against the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 21-2.

Drew Gray came off the injured list and made his first start outside of Mesa this season. He got out of the first inning with no runs scoring. Things went downhill for him and every other South Bend pitcher after that.

Gray was finished after three innings, allowing five runs on five hits, including a grand slam in the third. Gray walked four, hit one batter and struck out three.

Shoutout to Jozhan Oquendo, who got through his one inning without allowing a run. The only baserunner he gave up came on an error.

Shortstop Cristian Hernandez gave South Bend an early 1-0 lead with his fifth home run of the year in the top of the first inning. Hernandez went 2 for 3 with a double and a sacrifice fly, giving him both South Bend RBI. I hate to mention Hernandez also made three of South Bend’s four errors in this game.

Center fielder Carter Trice was 2 for 4 and scored on the Hernandez sac fly.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans chained up the Charleston RiverDogs (Royals), 10-0.

Ethan Flanagan looked sharp tonight, tossing six scoreless innings and permitting just three hits. He struck out nine and walked three as he grabbed his third win in five starts at Myrtle Beach.

Second baseman Ty Southisene was 2 for 3 with two walks and a steal. He scored three times.

DH Eli Lovich went 2 for 4 with a walk. He had a two-run single in the sixth inning and scored one run.

Shortstop Alexis Hernandez was 3 for 4 with an RBI double in the top of the second. He also scored on a passed ball in the sixth.

Right fielder Leonel Espinoza went 1 for 2 with an RBI double and three walks. He scored twice.

A double for Espinoza.

The Lovich two-run single.

ACL Cubs

Off day.