Minor League Wrap: Pedro Ramirez’s bat, glove lead Knoxville to doubleheader split

Knoxville splits a doubleheader and the ACL Cubs win on a walkoff home run. That’s the good news for tonight.

In a much-rumored move, the Cubs promoted right-hander Jostin Florentino to Low-A Myrtle Beach from the ACL Cubs.

Left-hander Burl Carraway joins the ACL Cubs from the Development List.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were lightning-struck by the Omaha Storm Chasers (Royals), 6-5.

All six Omaha runs came off of starter Peter Solomon, who gave up the six runs on eight hits over 3.1 innings. Solomon walked two and struck out two.

Lefty Riley Martin continued to make his case with a perfect inning in the bottom of the eighth. He struck out one. Martin has a 1.30 ERA with 42 strikeouts over 27.1 innings this year.

Iowa could only manage one hit and one unearned run over the first six innings against 45-year-old former Cub Rich Hill.

First baseman Carlos Pérez got Iowa to within a run with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth. It was his tenth home run this year. Pérez went 2 for 4 and scored twice.

Second baseman Ben Cowles had a two-run single in the seventh inning. He went 1 for 4.

Cowles two-run single.

The Pérez home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies split a doubleheader to the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), losing game one 3-0 and winning the second one 4-3.

Nick Dean started game one and got the loss after giving up three runs on four hits over five innings. Dean struck out six and walked no one. Two of the three runs came on a home run in the fifth inning by Austin Hendrick.

The Smokies had just three singles and no walks in game one. In their defense, they faced Chase Burns, who was the second-overall pick in last year’s draft. Burns threw a seven-inning complete game.

Sam Armstrong started and won game one. He went 5.1 innings and allowed three runs on five hits. All three runs came on a home run in the sixth inning, after which both he and manager Lance Rymel were ejected from the game. Armstrong struck out four and walked no one.

A.J. Puckett took over after the ejection and went the final 1.2 innings for the save, allowing no runs and one hit. Puckett walked one and struck out two.

Second baseman Pedro Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth, his second. Ramirez went 1 for 3.

Shortstop Eriandys Ramon drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single in his first Double-A game. Ramon went 1 for 2 and scored on the Ramirez home run.

Right fielder Parker Chavers was 2 for 3 with a double. He scored on the Ramon single.

Catcher Pablo Aliendo went 2 for 3.

Here’s some nice defense by Ramirez.

And here’s his home run.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs dropped both ends of a doubleheader to the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers), losing the continuation of yesterday’s suspended game 2-1 and the regularly-scheduled game by the same 2-1 score.

Erian Rodriguez started game one yesterday and took the loss after surrendering two runs on four hits over 4.1 innings before the rains came. Rodriguez walked four and struck out four.

The game was 2-1 Loons when the rains came yesterday and that’s how it ended. South Bend’s only run came on a Carter Trice home run to lead off the bottom of the first inning. It was Trice’s third-straight game with a home run and second-straight one to lead off the bottom of the first. Trice went 1 for 4.

Ryan Gallagher gave South Bend a good chance to win in game two, but he took the loss after giving up two runs on three hits over five innings. Gallagher struck out seven and walked just one.

First baseman Brian Kalmer singled home right fielder Ivan Brethowr with two outs in the bottom of the seventh to prevent the shutout. Kalmer went 1 for 3 and Brethowr was 0 for 2 with a walk.

Center fielder Carter Trice went 1 for 2 with a double and a walk.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were blasted by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 4-0.

Jostin Florentino got the loss in his Pelicans debut, giving up three runs, two earned, on six hits over 4.2 innings. Florentino walked four and struck out four.

First baseman Cameron Sisneros went 2 for 4.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Guardians, 6-5.

DH Eli Lovich hit a walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth. He was 2 for 4.