Cubs Minor League Wrap: Matthew Boyd makes a rehab start

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs plundered the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 11-10 in ten innings.

Matthew Boyd started this game on a rehab assignment. He got into trouble in the second inning when he gave up three runs, but was strong otherwise. The final line on Boyd was three runs on four hits over 3.2 innings. Boyd struck out six and walked just one, which is the most positive number. He threw 64 pitches and 46 were for strikes.

Will Sanders did not pitch as well, but ended up getting the win despite blowing an 8-3 lead. Sanders pitched four innings and allowed five runs on eight hits. He struck out five and walked three. One of those three walks was intentional.

Iowa scored three runs in the top of the tenth and Ryan Jensen got the save because he only gave up two runs in the bottom of the inning. Jensen gave up two runs, one earned, on two hits over one inning. He struck out two, walked one and hit one batter.

In defense of all these pitchers, the wind was howling out to left at 15 miles per hour.

Second baseman Pedro Ramirez had a big day. First, he had an RBI single in the top of the first inning. Next, Ramirez hit a three-run home run in the second inning, his fifth on the young season already. (His career-high for a season is eight.) Finally, he knocked in the third run in the top of the tenth with an infield single. Ramirez went 4 for 6 with two steals. He had the five RBI and scored twice.

Shortstop Ben Cowles cranked a solo home run in the eighth inning. Cowles also had an RBI double in the third inning and a sacrifice fly in the tenth. Cowles went 2 for 4 with the sac fly and the three runs batted in.

Third baseman James Triantos was 2 for 6 with a double to lead off the game. He scored on the Ramirez single. Triantos also stole a base.

Left fielder Owen Miller was 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once and drove in one.

Center fielder Brett Bateman was 2 for 5. He scored twice and had one run batted in.

The Ramirez home run went 394 feet.

Ben Cowles’s RBI double.

Cowles’ home run.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies stuffed and mounted the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins) on their mantel, 10-9.

Starter Nick Dean put the Smokies behind early when he gave up three runs in the bottom of the second inning. Dean’s final line was three runs on two hits over four innings. One of those two hits was a two-run home run. Dean walked two and struck out four.

The Smokies fell behind 8-2 when Erian Rodriguez got shelled for five runs in the fifth inning.

But the Smokies fought back and scored six runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game. However, Tyler Ras allowed a run in the bottom of the eighth to give Pensacola the lead back. Ras then got the win when the Smokies struck back with two runs in the top of the ninth. The final line on Ras was one run on two hits over 2.1 innings. He walked two and struck out four.

Vince Reilly pitched the bottom of the ninth and got the save. He issued a leadoff walk, but that runner was thrown out trying to steal. Reilly struck out the other two batters he faced to close out the win.

First baseman Edgar Alvarez gave the Smokies an early lead with a solo home run in the top of the second. Alvarez was 1 for 2 with three walks and two runs scored.

DH Alexis Ramírez hit a two-run single in the top of the ninth that ended up being the difference in the game. Ramírez went 1 for 4 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in the eighth, giving him three runs batted in tonight.

Right fielder Andy Garriola was 2 for 3 with an RBI double in the second inning. He was also hit by a pitch. Garriola reached on catcher’s interference and scored in the six-run eighth inning.

Some Smokies highlights from the eighth inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs won their sixth-straight game, 7-5 over the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins).

Starter Nazier Mulé gave up just one run on four hits over 3.1 innings. Mulé walked three and struck out four.

Brayden Spears pitched the next 2.2 innings and got the win because Mulé didn’t go five innings. But Spears deserved the W because he allowed no runs on just one hit and no walks. Spears struck out three.

Kenyi Perez pitched the final two innings and picked up the save. Perez did not permit a hit or a run, but he did walk two and hit a batter while striking out two.

DH Owen Ayers homered in his fourth-straight game and his fifth on the year. Ayers’ home run came with a man on in the fourth. He was 2 for 5.

Third baseman Reginald Preciado hit a two-run double in the third inning. He was 1 for 4.

South Bend only had four hits in this game, but scored seven runs because they walked eight times and were hit by pitches twice. The Sky Carp also committed two errors which led to four unearned runs.

Ayers’ home run.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans suffered a direct hit by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 9-4.

Starter Noah Edders went three innings and took the loss after allowing one run on three hits. He struck out five and walked one.

The game got out of hand when reliever Riely Hunsaker gave up five runs in the fourth inning and one more in the sixth. Hunsaker’s final line was six runs, four earned, on six hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out four.

First baseman Josiah Hartshorn went 1 for 4 with a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth. Hartshorn also walked once.

Myrtle Beach managed just four hits, but drew nine walks.

Read the full article here