Minor League Wrap: Iowa beats Louisville, 11-9

Great pitching leads to three wins. Iowa just slugs their way past the Bats.

Everyone wins! Even the Smokies!

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs outslugged the Louisville Bats (Reds), 11-9.

Starter Will Sanders gave up three home runs over five innings, but he still got the win. Sanders gave up six total runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Porter Hodge pitched the eighth inning on a rehab assignment. Hodge allowed one run on one hit—a solo home run—over one inning. Hodge struck out two and walked no one.

Nate Pearson retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He struck out one.

Center fielder Christian Franklin clubbed a solo home run in the fifth inning, his eighth on the year. Franklin also doubled twice, giving him eight total bases on the game. Franklin was 3 for 4 with a walk. He drove in three runs and scored twice.

Second baseman James Triantos hit a solo home run in the sixth inning. It was his third on the year. Triantos went 2 for 6.

DH Moisés Ballesteros was doubled twice in a 2 for 5 game. He scored twice and drove home one.

Catcher Carlos Pérez went 3 for 4 with a walk and a double. He scored twice and had three RBI. Pérez also walked once.

Left fielder Kevin Alcántara went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

Right fielder Owen Caissie was 2 for 5 with a double.

RBI double for Pérez.

RBI double for Ballesteros.

Christian Franklin’s blast.

The Triantos opp taco.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies reeled in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins), 4-2. This snaps the Smokies’ seven-game losing streak and is their first win since the All-Star Break.

Ryan Gallagher turned in a fantastic start, leaving a scoreless game after issuing a one-out walk. Unfortunately, reliever Frankie Scalzo Jr. gave up a two-run home run on the first pitch he threw. So Gallagher’s final line was one run on two hits and three walks over 6.1 innings. He struck out eight.

Scalzo ended up getting up the win after the Smokies rallied in the bottom of the eighth. Scalzo was charged with one run on two hits over 1.2 innings. He did not walk or strike anyone out.

Tyler Santana retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He struck out one.

First baseman BJ Murray Jr. hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, his 14th on the year. Murray was 2 for 4.

Before that in the eighth, shortstop Jefferson Rojas doubled home center fielder Jaylen Palmer with the first Smokies run. Rojas was 2 for 4 with a double and he scored on Murray’s home run. Palmer was 1 for 3.

Rojas just missed his first Double-A home run.

Murray has 41 career home runs for the Smokies.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs slew the Dayton Dragons (Reds), 4-1.

A great start tonight from the hometown boy Kenton Egbert, who allowed just one run on three hits over six innings. Egbert walked one and struck out one.

After Jackson Kirkpatrick relieved Egbert and walked the bases loaded with only out out in the seventh, Jozhan Oquendo was summoned from the bullpen and got a strikeout and a ground out the end the threat with no runs scoring. Oquendo got the save after pitching 2.2 scoreless innings, allowing no hits. He walked two and struck out two.

Center fielder Carter Trice homered with the bases empty in the seventh inning, his 14th on the year. Trice went 1 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

Catcher Ariel Armas hit a two-run double in the third inning. He was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Second baseman Drew Bowser was 2 for 3 with a walk and two runs scored.

First baseman Brian Kalmer was 2 for 5.

The Armas RBI double.

Trice’s home run was a line drive down the right field line.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scooped up the Columbia Fireflies (Royals), 3-2.

Ethan Flanagan started and got the win. Flanagan surrendered just one run on two hits over six innings. Flanagan walked three and struck out four.

Reliever Charlie Hurley got into trouble in the ninth inning, giving up a run and putting a runner on first with two outs so he was replaced with Landon Ginn, who struck out the only batter he faced for the save.

Hurley’s line was one run on three hits over 2.2 innings. Hurley walked two and struck out one.

DH Jose Escobar had two RBI singles in a 2 for 4 game.

Center fielder Leonel Espinoza was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored one run.

Highlights.