Minor League Wrap: Smokies win sixth straight, 8-1 over Lookouts

The Smokies are red hot. The Pelicans are in first place.

I can’t believe it’s August already.

The Smokies were down a couple pitchers after the Trade Deadline, so right-hander Tommy Romero was demoted from Triple-A Iowa to Double-A Knoxville and left-hander Evan Taylor was promoted to Knoxville from Low-A South Bend. South Bend lefty Marino Santy was activated off the Development List.

Remember how the Smokies lost seven in a row coming out of the All-Star Break? Well, they’ve now won six in a row after snapping the losing streak.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs lost to Indianapolis (Pirates), 8-5 in ten innings.

Will Sanders turned in a strong performance, allowing just two runs on two hits over six innings. He struck out eight, walked just two and hit a batter.

The I-Cubs bullpen wasn’t as good. Nate Pearson pitched the top of the tenth and took the loss after getting knocked around for three runs on two hits over one inning, Only one of the three runs Pearson allowed was earned. Pearson walked two and struck out one.

After the I-Cubs blew a 3-0 lead and trailed 5-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning, Center fielder James Triantos hit a game-tying two-run home run. It was his fourth home run this year. Triantos was 2 for 4 with a walk and a steal.

Right fielder Owen Caissie went 2 for 5 and scored one run.

First baseman Jonathon Long was 2 for 4 with a walk.

The Triantos home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies burned down the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 8-1.

Tommy Romero went four innings in his Smokies debut and gave up just one run on two hits. He walked two and struck out three.

Chase Watkins threw the next two innings and got the win because Romero didn’t go five inning. Watkins allowed no runs and just one hit. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out one.

Catcher Ethan Hearn hit a solo home run in the eighth inning, his fifth of the season. Hearn was 1 for 4.

First baseman BJ Murray Jr. had an RBI double in the fifth inning and an RBI single in the seventh. Murray went 2 for 5.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs were mugged by the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals), 5-3.

Starter Brooks Caple took the loss after allowing three runs, two earned, on seven hits over four innings. Caple walked two and struck out two.

Shortstop Cristian Hernandez had an RBI single in the eighth inning. Later in the inning, he stole third base and scored on a bad throw. Hernandez was 1 for 3 with a walk and two steals.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans kenneled the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 5-1.

Jostin Florentino was terrific as he picked up the win on one run on three hits over six innings. Florentino walked two and struck out six.

First baseman Matt Halbach hit a three-run home run in the sixth inning, his seventh on the season. Halbach was 1 for 4.

Left fielder Derik Alcantara went 2 for 4 with a stolen base. He tripled in the fifth inning and then scored on a balk. Alcantara scored twice.

Third baseman Christian Olivo had an RBI double in the third inning. He was 2 for 4.

Right fielder Eli Lovich went 2 for 4 with a steal.

Olivo’s double just missed going out.

Halbach’s home run.