Cole Mathis hit two home runs, leading the Pelicans to victory. Jaxon Wiggins was placed on the injured list, while Porter Hodge will undergo elbow surgery, ending his season. Dylan Carlson has elected free agency.
SCOTTSDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 26: Cole Mathis #16 of the Mesa Solar Sox bats during the game between the Mesa Solar Sox and the Scottsdale Scorpions at Scottsdale Stadium on Sunday, October 26, 2025 in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
For those of you asking. Jaxon Wiggins was placed on the injured list today. The Cubs say that theyāre 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.
Paul Campbell pitched the first four innings in his Cubsā 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 didnāt 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.
Hereās Opitzās safety squeeze.
See, small ball does work! The second RBI of the night by Casey Opitz makes it 4-0 I-Cubs in the fourth! pic.twitter.com/mD0zweUawG
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 didnāt 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.
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 didnāt 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.
Starter Dominick Reid surrendered three runs on four hits over 3.1 innings. He walked three and srtuck out five.
Eli Jerzembeck provided solid relief after not giving up a run over 2.2 innings. He allowed two hits and walked one while striking out four.
Ben Johnson pitched the top of the tenth, didnāt allow a run and got the win. After balking the automatic runner over to third with no outs, Johnson escaped with a walk, a caught stealing and two strikeouts. Johnson walked two batters total.
First baseman Cole Mathis provided most of the offense tonight with two two-run home runs. The first came in the bottom of the first and the second one was in the third. Mathis now has six home runs in just 11 games. He just missed a home run later in the game and had to settle for a double. Mathis went 4 for 5 with the double and two home runs.
Left fielder Jose Escobar singled home the winning run in the bottom of the tenth. Escobar was 3 for 4 and was hit by a pitch.
Shortstop Ty Southisene was 1 for 2 with two walks. He scored one run.
ā Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) April 16, 2026
Q&A
What did Cole Mathis achieve in the recent game?
Cole Mathis hit two home runs, contributing significantly to the Pelicans' victory.
Why was Jaxon Wiggins placed on the injured list?
Jaxon Wiggins was placed on the injured list, but the Cubs are hopeful it will be a short-term issue.
What is the status of Porter Hodge's injury?
Porter Hodge will undergo elbow surgery and is out for the remainder of the season.
What decision did Dylan Carlson make regarding his contract?
Dylan Carlson has elected free agency, indicating he will not be returning to his previous team.
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