Minor League Wrap: Jordan Wicks returns as Iowa beats Nashville, 6-1

Moisés Ballesteros continues to hit in Iowa’s win. A top Cubs prospect starts his season in Mesa.

The Iowa Cubs activated left-hander Jordan Wicks off the injured list. Right-hander Will Sanders went on the development list.

Right-hander Brandon Birdsell is starting a rehab stint in Mesa.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs drowned out the Nashville Sounds (Brewers), 6-1.

Jordan Wicks made his first appearance in almost a month and threw three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Wicks struck out four and did not walk anyone.

Jake Woodford threw the next six innings and got the win since Wicks didn’t go five. Woodford gave up just one run on four hits. He struck out seven and did not walk anyone.

Pretty good that the I-Cubs pitchers did not walk anyone tonight.

DH Moisés Ballesteros opened up the scoring with a solo home run in the top of the first inning, his eighth of the season. Ballesteros also had an RBI single in the fifth inning. He was 3 for 5.

Catcher Carlos Pérez then went back-to-back with Ballesteros in the top of the first inning with his 13th home run of the season. Pérez went 2 for 5 a double, the home run and two runs batted in.

Right fielder Owen Caissie went 2 for 4 with a double and a walk. He scored twice.

The Ballesteros home run.

Pérez goes back-to-back.

Jordan Wicks gets a strikeout on a changeup.

Behind-the-back catch for Wicks.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were extinguished by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 5-4.

Smokies starter Nick Dean surrendered three runs on five hits over five innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

Reliever Antonio Santos gave up a run in the eighth inning and a walkoff single in the ninth. The final line on Santos was two runs on three hits over 1.2 innings. Santos walked four (one intentionally) and hit one batter while not striking anyone out.

DH Pablo Aliendo hit a two-run double in the fifth inning to give the Smokies a 4-3 lead. Aliendo was 1 for 4 with three total RBI.

Shortstop Corey Joyce went 3 for 5 with a double and a steal. He drove in a run in the third inning with a single. He scored on Aliendo’s double.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were boarded and seized by the Lake County Captains (Guardians), 6-2.

Starter Evan Aschenbeck got the loss after giving up five runs on eight hits over four innings. The big blow was a three-run home run in the second by Juan Benjamin. Aschenbeck walked two and struck out three.

Rehabbing second baseman James Triantos was 2 for 5 with a stolen base. He scored once.

Center fielder Carter Trice was 0 for 1 with three walks and a stolen base. Trice scored on an errant throw on a double steal with Triantos in the third inning.

South Bend had just four hits in this game.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were drilled by the Fayetteville Woodpeckers (Astros), 5-4.

Ethan Flanagan, the Cubs’ 17th-round pick in 2023, made his Myrtle Beach debut after missing all of last season with Tommy John surgery. Flanagan was impressive, allowing just one run on three hits over five innings. He walked three and struck out six.

Yoendris Gonzalez came on to pitch the sixth and allowed two runs on three hits. Brayden Spears then took over and got the loss, allowing two runs on three hits and two walks over two innings. Spears struck out three.

Shortstop Yahil Melendez had his first three-hit game of the year, going 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored.

First baseman Matt Halbach was 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBi double in the third inning. Halbach scored once.

Right fielder Christian Olivo went 2 for 4 with two steals. He had one RBI.

Halbach’s RBI double.

Flanagan’s six strikeouts.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Brewers, 6-2.

Rehabbing top-ten Cubs prospect Brandon Birdsell started this game and allowed no runs and no hits over the first two innings. Birdsell walked two and struck out five.