Minor League Wrap: Owen Caissie homers twice as Iowa stops Omaha, 12-3

The ball was flying out of Principal Park as Iowa hits 5 home runs. Myrtle Beach is 10-2 in the second half so far.

Iowa Cubs right-hander Phil Bickford has been released to free agency.

The Cubs have signed their 2019 first-round draft pick, Ryan Jensen, to a minor league deal. Jensen will report to Mesa for now.

Outfielder Derik Alcantara was promoted to Low-A Myrtle Beach from Mesa.

Smokies infielder Pedro Ramirez was named Southern League Player of the Month for June. Ramirez hit 313/.369/.545 in June and led the league in hits (31), runs (22), and RBI (23) for the month.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs brought the heavens down on the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 12-3.

Connor Noland got off to a rough start, giving up a two-run home run in the top of the first inning. But he settled down and was fantastic the rest of his time, finishing with two runs on six hits over 5.2 innings. He struck out eight and walked three.

Right fielder Owen Caissie hit not one but two home runs tonight. The first one was a solo home run in the first inning. The second one was a two-run home run in the fifth. Caissie finished the night going 2 for 4 with the two home runs and a walk. He scored three times and drove in four runs total. Caissie now has 14 home runs this year.

Catcher Carlos Pérez tied it up 2-2 in the bottom of the first with a solo home run, his 19th blast on the season. Pérez went 1 for 4 with a walk.

First baseman Jonathon Long clubbed a two-run home run in the fifth inning, his 11th. Long went 2 for 5.

Finally, DH Kevin Alcántara hit a solo home run in the sixth inning, which was also his 11th. Alcántara went 3 for 5 with two runs scored. It’s The Jaguar’s sixth-straight game with an RBI. His batting average for the year is up to .277 after this current hot streak.

Left fielder Greg Allen went 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored twice and drove in one.

Shortstop Hayden Cantrelle was 3 for 4 with a walk. He scored once and drove in two.

Caissie’s first home run.

The Carlos Pérez home run.

The Long arm of the Iowa long ball.

Caissie’s second blast.

The Jaguar strikes. 417 feet.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were blasted into orbit by the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 10-8.

Starter Grant Kipp didn’t make it out of the second inning where he gave up three runs. Kipp’s final line was three runs on two hits and five walks over 1.2 innings. Kipp struck out one.

Knoxville took an 8-6 lead into the bottom of the eighth, but AJ Puckett melted down, giving up four runs on two home runs—one three-run blast and a solo shot. Puckett pitched 1.1 innings and allowed three hits and walked one. He did not strike out anyone.

DH Corey Joyce went 2 for 3 with two walks. He scored three times.

Third baseman BJ Murray Jr. was 2 for 4 with a walk. He scored once and drove in one.

Right fielder Jordan Nwogu was 2 for 3. He was also hit by a pitch and hit a sacrifice fly. Nwogu drove in three runs.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were fired by the Peoria Chiefs (Cardinals), 3-2 in ten innings.

Brandon Birdsell moved his rehab up to High-A today and made the start. He was solid, allowing two runs, one earned, on just three hits over four innings. Birdsell struck out five and walked just one. Birdsell also hit a batter.

Evan Aschenbeck tossed the next four innings without allowing a run. He surrendered four hits and walked one and hit one batter while striking out four.

Vince Reilly retired the side in order in the ninth, but after South Bend failed to score in the top of the tenth, he gave up a leadoff walk-off double to end the game in the tenth. Reilly did not have a strikeout.

DH Cristian Hernandez doubled home shortstop Jefferson Rojas in the third inning. Then Hernandez scored South Bend’s second and final run on a single by catcher Miguel Pabon.

Hernandez was 1 for 3 with the double, a walk and a stolen base. Rojas went 1 for 5. Pabon was 1 for 4.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans kenneled the Charleston RiverDogs (Royals), 3-1.

Yenrri Rojas threw the first five innings and got the win after allowing one run on five hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Landon Gill tossed two scoreless innings of relief for the hold and then Cole Reynolds pitched the final two innings for his first professional save. Reynolds gave up one hit and no runs. He walked two and struck out two.

First baseman Owen Ayers hit a two-run home run in the top of the first inning, his third on the year. Ayers went 1 for 3 with a walk.

Ayers’ home run.

Right fielder Eli Lovich had an RBI single in the third. He was 1 for 4.

ACL Cubs

Lost to the Rockies 8-0.

Derniche Valdez made his season debut in this game, playing center field.