Justin Steele makes a rehab start as the I-Cubs split a doubleheader. South Bend and Myrtle Beach also win.
Today in transactions, infielder Drew Bowser and right-hander Starlyn Pichardo were sent back down to Mesa from Myrtle Beach. Shortstop Fabian Pertuz and right-hander Mason McGwire went up to Myrtle Beach.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs split a doubleheader with the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), winning game one 6-5 in eight innings and losing the second game 5-1.
Justin Steele made a rehab start in game one, Steele allowed three runs on six hits over 3.1 innings. He struck out four and walked one. Steele through 63 pitches, 41 of which were strikes. As always, what is important in a rehab start is how the player feels after the appearance.
More on Steele’s appearance.
Final line for Justin Steele today with the @IowaCubs – 3.1 IP, 6 H, 3 ER, 4 K, 1 BB.
63 pitches, 41 strikes, 22 balls.
Of the six hits he gave up, only one had an exit velocity over 100 mph.
Also got nine swings and misses.
— Alex Cohen (@voiceofcohen2) May 1, 2024
Cam Sanders tossed the next 2.1 innings and allowed two runs, one earned, on two hits. One of the hits was a solo home run. Sanders struck out four and walked one.
Brad Wieck’s comeback tour continued with 1.1 innings, retiring all four batters he faced. Wieck did not have a strikeout. Wieck has an ERA of 1.38 over nine appearances and 13 innings so far this season.
Carl Edwards Jr. pitched the top of the eighth and got the win. He allowed no runs and no hits while walking one. Edwards struck out one.
Third baseman Miles Mastrobuoni started the bottom of the eighth on second base. He went to third on a Brennen Davis fly out to right field and scored on a wild pitch. Mastrobuoni was 0 for 4. Davis went 0 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
In the fourth inning, right fielder Owen Caissie hit a solo home run, his second on the season. Caissie went 1 for 3 with a walk.
DH Darius Hill was 2 for 4. He singled home a run in the fifth inning and then scored later in the inning.
Luis Vazquez. Vazquez went 2 for 4 with an RBI double and one run scored as a part of a four-run fifth inning.
Second of the season for Owen Caissie! pic.twitter.com/5EU7FoXhfI
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 1, 2024
Vazquez’s double.
Luis Vazquez doubles home another pic.twitter.com/F0vkx1BOO6
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 1, 2024
The winning run.
WALK-OFF WIN pic.twitter.com/asvfEN4Rc0
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) May 1, 2024
Two strikeouts for Steele.
Justin Steele strikes out two in the first!
Watch here: https://t.co/kWUzzUkVyY pic.twitter.com/Zx6Lb4fYMV
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 1, 2024
And here is Steele talking about his start after the game.
“It was a good step in the process of building back up.”
Justin Steele on his rehab start with the @IowaCubs. pic.twitter.com/79A1Xk3ruC
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 1, 2024
Chris Clarke started game two and allowed two runs in the first and three in the second and that would be all Omaha would need. Clarke’s final line was five runs on five hits and two walks over two innings. He did not strike anyone out.
Sam McWilliams pitched three scoreless innings and Edwin Escobar tossed two scoreless to close out the game. McWilliams struck out five while walking no one and allowing just one hit.
First baseman Jake Slaughter was 2 for 3 with a walk and a stolen base. He scored Iowa’s only run.
Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies got food poisoning from the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 5-3.
Starter Brandon Birdsell took the loss after giving up four runs, three earned, on seven hits over 5.3 innings. Birdsell walked two and struck out three.
Right fielder Christian Franklin was 2 for 3 with a walk and two stolen bases. He scored once and drove home one run.
Second baseman James Triantos was 2 for 4 and scored one run.
Franklin’s RBI single.
Christian Franklin adds to his impressive night with an RBI single to score Moises Ballesteros! @CF13_ #LastYearBestYear pic.twitter.com/c6IjDTkqU2
— Tennessee Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) May 2, 2024
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs hammered the Lansing Lugnuts (Athletics), 9-3.
Starter Will Sanders had his second-straight good start, allowing just one unearned run on one hit over 3.2 innings. Sanders struck out five and walked just one, although he did hit two batters.
Sam Armstrong got the win, pitching the middle 3.2 innings. Armstrong gave up a run on three hits. He walked two, hit one and struck out four.
Yovanny Cabrera threw the final 1.2 innings and got the save. Cabrera surrendered one unearned run on no hits. He did walk two and struck out one.
Catcher Ethan Hearn tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth with a solo home run, his first on the season. The home run capped off a big day for Hearn, who went 3 for 4 with a walk and three runs scored.
Center fielder Brett Bateman was a perfect 3 for 3 with a double and two walks. Bateman scored twice.
Third baseman Reivaj Garcia was 2 for 5 with three RBI.
First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 5 with a double and a stolen base. He scored two times.
DH Pedro Ramirez was 2 for 5 with one run batted in.
Shortstop Jefferson Rojas was 1 for 5, extending his hitting streak to 16 games.
Some Will Sanders highlights:
Will Sanders dealt again!
Last 2 starts: 6.2 IP, 3 H, ER, 1 1 KThank you @GamecockBasebll for this DUDE. pic.twitter.com/iuMYR9ziFe
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) May 1, 2024
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans bleached the Salem Red Sox, 6-4.
Mason McGwire started and surrendered just one run on two hits over 2.2 innings. The bad side is that McGwire walked three and had three wild pitches. He did not record a strikeotu.
The win went to Vince Reilly, who gave up two unearned runs on one hit over 1.1 innings. Reilly struck out three and walked one. It was Reilly’s first professional win.
Ty Johnson just got a hold, but he had the best outing of the four Birds pitchers. Johnson allowed one run on five hits over four innings. Johnson struck out four and walked one.
Shane Marshall pitched a scoreless bottom of the ninth and got the save. He walked the leadoff batter, but then retired the next three in order. Marshall did not have a strikeout.
Shortstop Cristian Hernandez stayed hot with a 3 for 5 game. He also stole two bases. Hernandez scored one run.
Center fielder Christian Olivo was 2 for 5 with an RBI.
Right fielder Alfonsin Rosario was 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI double. He scored twice.
The Pelicans were 6 for 7 in stealing bases.
Rosario’s double.
This ball was SMOKED. 105 off the bat.
Alfonsin Rosario brings in his fifth RBI of the season on a double and later comes in to score.
Birds up 5-3 in the fifth. #MBPelicans | #YouHaveToSeeIt pic.twitter.com/TtqbP0A0Ch
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) May 2, 2024