Minor League Wrap: Smokies drop seventh-straight, 5-1 to Blue Wahoos

Just Myrtle Beach won tonight. The Smokies are in a funk.

The Cubs announced the signing of nine more draft picks, which includes every unsigned draft pick except 19th-round pick infielder Caleb Barnett, who has said that he still intends to attend Alabama in the fall.

If you want to start the tongues wagging, Jaxon Wiggins was scratched from his start for the Smokies tonight. No reason was given, although the Cubs have been trying to manage his workload, so it may not be trade or injury-related. But last-minute scratches at this time of year are always subject to wild speculation.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were beaten by the Louisville Bats (Reds), 6-5.

Brandon Birdsell started and allowed three runs on six hits over 5.1 innings. Two of those six hits were solo home runs. Birdsell struck out three and did not walk anyone.

Luke Little allowed a game-tying single in the seventh inning and then immediately left the game with the trainer, holding the back of his leg. Little’s final line was two runs on four hits over 1.1 innings. Little struck out one and did not walk anyone.

Gavin Hollowell gave up a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth and got the loss. The final line on Hollowell was one run on two hits and two walks over a third of an inning. One of the walks was intentional. He did not have a strikeout.

Shortstop Ben Cowles stayed hot with a three-run triple in the fifth inning. Cowles was 2 for 4.

First baseman Jonathon Long went 2 for 4 with a walk and one run scored.

Right fielder Greg Allen went 2 for 4.

Here’s Cowles’ triple.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were pulled into the water by the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins), 5-1. It was the Smokies’ seventh-straight loss.

Grant Kipp was excellent over the first five innings, allowing just one hit and no runs. Kipp struck out five and walked two.

Nick Hull relieved Kipp and retired the side in order in the sixth, but then he got lit up for four runs in the seventh inning and got the loss. Hull’s line was four runs, three earned, on two hits over 1.2 innings. Hull walked three and hit two batters. He struck out two.

Third baseman Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 4. He also drove in the only Smokies run in the bottom of the ninth, but since he did it by hitting into a double play, he doesn’t get an RBI for that.

Second baseman Reivaj Garcia was 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs perished in pitched battle with the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 4-1.

Brooks Caple started and took the loss. Caple gave up three runs on seven hits voer just 3.2 innings. He walked three and struck out three.

South Bend had just two hits tonight, both singles. Shortstop Cristian Hernandez went 1 for 4 with a stolen base. He scored the lone South Bend run on a wild pitch in the sixth inning.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans turned off the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 6-5 in ten innings.

Walker Powell started this game on a rehab assignment. Powell allowed two runs on four hits over four innings. Powell struck out three and walked one.

Next up was Jostin Florentino, who surrendered just one unearned run over the next four innings. Florentino gave up two hits and walked three while striking out seven. He did have two wild pitches and he balked twice.

Dominic Hambley came on to get the save in the ninth, but he gave up two runs on three hits to send it to extras. But Ethan Bell retired the side in order in the top of the tenth and got the win when the Birds scored in the bottom of the inning. Bell struck out one.

Left fielder Derik Alcantara singled home pinch-runner Ty Southisene in the bottom of the tenth to win the game. Alcantara was 1 for 4 with a walk. He scored once.

Shortstop Angel Cepeda was on base five times, going 2 for 2 with a walk and getting hit by a pitch twice. Cepeda stole three bases. He scored twice.

Third baseman Yahil Melendez was 1 for 3 with two walks and two steals. He scored one run and drove in one.

Right fielder Leonel Espinoza was 0 for 5, but he drove in two runs and stole three bases.

The Pelicans stole nine bases in this game.