Minor League Wrap: Jefferson Rojas and South Bend stomp on Timber Rattlers, 13-4

Lots of home runs today and wins for Knoxville and South Bend.

Right-hander Thomas Mangus, the Cubs’ 18th-round pick last year, was promoted to Low-A Myrtle Beach from Mesa.

Iowa outfielder Owen Caissie was named International League Player of the Week.

Iowa outfielder Kevin Alcántara left tonight’s game with a leg injury. It is apparently something that he’s been dealing with for a few weeks, according to Tommy Birch of the Des Moines Register.

Also, Smokies right-hander Jaxon Wiggins has pulled out of the Futures Game. However, there is good news on that front.

So Wiggins isn’t hurt. They’re just resting his arm. It kind of stinks that this is costing him the Futures Game. You’d think they could have done this a little earlier. But I guess the Cubs farm director knows more about this than I do.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were cast out of paradise by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 11-5.

Will Sanders pitched the first five innings and surrendered five runs on seven hits. Only two of the five runs were earned, however. Sanders walked three, hit one batter and struck out four.

Reliever Riley Martin gave up a three-run home run in the bottom of the seventh and got tagged with the loss. Martin’s final line was three runs on three hits and two walks over 1.2 innings. Martin struck out one.

Right fielder Owen Caissie is making an early bid for back-to-back Player of the Week honors as hit hit two solo home runs today, giving him 18 on the year. The home runs came in the first and third innings. Caissie went 2 for 5.

Greg Allen came off the bench for the injured Kevin Alcántara and hit a game-tying two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was Allen’s fourth home run. Allen went 1 for 2.

Catcher Moisés Ballesteros was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored on Allen’s homer.

Shortstop Ben Cowles was 2 for 4 with a steal and one run scored.

Center fielder Christian Franklin was 2 for 5 with a stolen base.

Caissie’s two home runs. Yes, he turned 23 today.

Allen’s home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies burnt the Montgomery Biscuits (Rays), 5-4.

Starter Sam Armstrong gave up four runs on seven hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Reliever Brad Deppermann retired the side in order in the top of the eighth and collected th win after the Smokies scored three times in the bottom of the inning. Deppermann struck out one.

A.J. Puckett pitched the top of the ninth for his 13th save. Puckett gave up a two-out single, but no other baserunners. He struck out two.

Third baseman Pedro Ramirez hit an RBI single in the third inning and a go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth for two runs batted in. Ramirez went 2 for 3 with a walk and the sac fly.

Right fielder Andy Garriola was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored twice.

Some great defense by shortstop Reivaj Garcia.

RBI single for Pedro Ramirez.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs sawed off the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 13-4.

Brooks Caple started and got the win after giving up four runs on eight hits over six innings. He walked one and struck out two.

Evan Taylor tossed two innings of scoreless relief and Kenyi Perez threw one to close out the game. Both relievers allowed two hits. Perez actually loaded the based with no outs on two singles and a walk, but pitched out of the jam with no runs scoring with two strikeouts and a fly to right.

Second baseman Jefferson Rojas connected for a career-high eighth home run with the bases empty in the top of the first inning. Rojas went 2 for 5 with two total RBI.

DH Brian Kalmer cranked a three-run home run in the second inning. It was his third on the year. Kalmer went 2 for 4 with four total runs batted in.

Next up, catcher Ariel Armas hit a two-run home run in the third inning, his third of the year. Armas was 2 for 4 with a double, the home run and a walk. He scored twice.

Finally. first baseman Cameron Sisneros blasted a solo home run in the seventh for South Bend’s fourth and final home run on the night. It was the fifth home run of the year and second in South Bend. Sisneros went 3 for 5 with a double and the homer. He scored three times and plated three total runs.

The Rojas home run:

Kalmer’s third on the year.

Highlights of a three-run sixth inning.

The Sisneros home run bounced off the batter’s eye in dead center.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blasted by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 9-2.

Tough start for Hayden Frank, who took the loss after giving up six runs on nine hits over five innings. Frank struck out two and walked one.

Miguel Olivo was 2 for 3 with a double and a stolen base. He scored once.

ACL Cubs

Lost to the Padres, 8-1.