Cubs Minor League Wrap: Cole Mathis’ 2HR leads Pelicans past

For those of you asking. Jaxon Wiggins was placed on the injured list today. The Cubs say that they’re hopeful it will be a short trip.

Porter Hodge will have elbow surgery and is out for the season.

Dylan Carlson elected free agency.

Left-hander Marino Santy was promoted to Double-A Knoxville from High-A South Bend.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were broadsided by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 9-4.

Paul Campbell pitched the first four innings in his Cubs’ organization debut. Campbell allowed a two-run home run in the fourth, but otherwise acquitted himself well. His final line was two runs on four hits over four innings. He struck out four and walked no one.

Unfortunately, Tyler Beede did not have as good of a Iowa debut. He came on to pitch the sixth inning and didn’t managed to get through it. Beede got the loss after allowing four runs on two hits and two walks over two-thirds of an inning. One of those hits was a three-run home run. Beede did not have a strikeout.

Catcher Casey Opitz made his season debut and went 2 for 3 with an RBI single and a squeeze bunt. He scored once in addition to the two RBI.

Shortstop Ben Cowles went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single.

DH BJ Murray was 2 for 4.

Here’s Opitz’s safety squeeze.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies reeled in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins), 8-0.

Four Knoxville pitchers combined on the five-hit shutout. Yennri Rojas started and gave up just one hit over 3.1 innings. Rojas did walk four while striking out two.

Jace Beck pitched the next 2.2 innings and got the win. Beck surrendered one hit while walking two. He struck out six.

Evan Taylor pitched the seventh and eighth innings. He allowed two hits but didn’t walk anyone and struck out one.

Marino Santy handled the ninth. He allowed a leadoff single but nothing else. Santy struck out one.

Right fielder Alex Ramirez was 3 for 5 with a double. He scored twice and drove in one.

DH Ethan Hearn was 2 for 4 with a two-run double. He went 2 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. Hearn also stole a base.

Miguel Useche added an insurance run with a pinch-hit home run in the top of the ninth.

Some Smokies highlights from the fourth inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs filleted the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 9-5.

Starter Kevin Valdez struggled tonight, giving up three in the first inning and two in the fourth. His final line was five runs on five hits over 3.1 innings. Valdez walked two, hit one batter and struck out three.

Ethan Bell relieved Valdez in the fourth and while he did let two (out of three) inherited runners to score, he didn’t allow any runs of his own and took home his first South Bend win. Bell allowed no runs and no hits. He walked one and struck out one over 1.2 innings.

Ethan Flanagan pitched the final four innings without giving up a run for the save. Flanagan allowed just two hits while striking out seven and walking no one.

Right fielder Kade Snell gave South Bend the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth with an two-run single. Snell also had an RBI ground out earlier in the game and a sacrifice fly later. That gave him four RBI on a 1 for 4 game. Snell also stole a base.

First baseman Cameron Sisneros clubbed a solo home run in the seventh inning. It was his second on the year. Sisneros went 3 for 4 with two RBI.

Catcher Owen Ayers tacked on an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth with a solo home run. It was his fourth home run already this season and third in as many games. Ayers went 2 for 4 with a walk and two runs scored.

Second baseman Drew Bowser was 2 for 3 with a walk. He scored once.

An RBI triple for Leonel Espinoza. He was 1 for 4 and was hit by a pitch. He scored twice.