Grant Kipp excelled for the Knoxville Smokies, showcasing his talent in the minor leagues. Meanwhile, Zac Leigh was activated and moved to Triple-A Iowa, where the Iowa Cubs defeated the Omaha Storm Chasers 7-3.
KNOXVILLE, TN - APRIL 01: Grant Kipp #11 of the Knoxville Smokies poses for a photo during the Knoxville Smokies photo day at Tennessee Smokies Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Randy Sartin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images
Right-hander Zac Leigh was activated off the Development List and assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
Starter Vince Velasquez gave up two runs in the top of the first inning, but settled down after that. The final line on Velasquez was two runs on four hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out three and walked one.
Luke Little relieved Velasquez in the fifth and improved his record to 3-0 after the I-Cubs scored three runs in the bottom of the inning. Little’s final line was no runs on two hits over 1.2 innings. He struck out three and walked no one.
Second baseman James Triantos singled home Iowa’s first run of the game in the fifth inning. He also had an RBI groundout in the sixth. Triantos finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and the two RBI. He also stole a base.
Shortstop Ben Cowles hit a two-run double in the sixth inning. He went 2 for 4 and also scored once.
Left fielder Jonathon Long doubled home Justin Dean in the seventh inning for the seventh and final Iowa run. Long went 2 for 4. Dean went 1 for 4 with a walk and a stolen base. He drove in two runs and scored one.
Starter Grant Kipp shut down Rocket City with five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit. Kipp struck out four and walked no one.
Jace Beck kept the Trash Pandas off the board for two more innings, but when he came out for the top of the eighth, he gave up a three-run home run. But Dawson Netz struck out the side in the order in the top of the ninth and got the win when the Smokie scored twice in the bottom of the frame.
Second baseman Karson Simas singled home Jordan Nwogu to tie the game in the bottom of the ninth and then third baseman Devin Ortiz hit a walk-off sacrifice fly to end the game.
Ortiz also hit a solo home run in the bottom of the eighth inning, his first in the Cubs organization. Ortiz went 1 for 2 with the home run, the sac fly and the two RBI. He also scored twice.
Simas was 1 for 4 with a stolen base. Nwogu went 0 for 3 with a walk and the run scored.
Some Grant Kipp highlights.
Grant Kipp in Double-A tonight:
5.0 IP | 1 H | 0 R | 0 BB | 4 K
He faced just one over the minimum. Up to 8.1 innings of scoreless baseball so far this season. pic.twitter.com/PzPUyskfFV
Starter Cole Reynolds surrendered two runs on four hits over three innings. He struck out five and walked two.
The comeback started when first baseman Cameron Sisneros led off the top of the seventh with a home run. Later in the inning, Sisneros walked with the bases loaded. He finished the game 1 for 4 with the two RBI.
South Bend took the lead when center fielder Leonel Espinoza cranked a three-run home run later in the seventh. Espinoza went 2 for 5.
Third baseman Matt Halbach walked with the bases loaded in the seventh and hit a solo home run in the eighth. Halbach went 2 for 4 with a walk. He had the two RBI and scored twice.
South Bend drew six walks and was hit by a pitch in that eight-run seventh inning.
The home runs by Cisneros and Espinoza.
Hello. We just scored 8⃣ runs in the seventh inning.
Cameron Sisneros and Leonel Espinoza combined to flip the game with @hoosierlottery home runs
Pelicans starter David Bracho was tagged for four runs on four hits over 2.2 innings. Bracho walked three and struck out three.
Braylon Meyers relieved Bracho and pitched quite well as he did not allow a run and only one hit over 3.1 innings. Meyers struck out two and walked no one.
The wheels came off in the bottom of the eighth when Columbia scored six runs. Aiden Moffett had walked the bases loaded in the seventh inning and escaped unscathed, but when he came out to pitch the eighth, he walked the first three batters of the inning. At that point he was relieved by Mason McGwire, who walked the first two batters he faced and then gave up a two-run double. McGwire got the loss after being charged with three runs, but only one earned, on one hit over one inning. He walked two and struck out two.
Catcher Jairo Diaz hit his first Pelicans home run in the the top of the eighth inning with two men on. Diaz finished 2 for 3 with a walk. In addition to the three RBI, Diaz acored twice.
Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn went 2 for 4 with a double and a triple. Hartshorn drove in two runs and scored one run.
First baseman Cole Mathis was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored twice.
Who is Grant Kipp and what did he achieve with the Smokies?
Grant Kipp is a right-handed pitcher who recently shined in his performance for the Knoxville Smokies.
What is the significance of Zac Leigh being activated off the Development List?
Zac Leigh's activation off the Development List indicates he is ready to compete at a higher level, now assigned to Triple-A Iowa.
What was the final score of the Iowa Cubs game against the Omaha Storm Chasers?
The Iowa Cubs won the game against the Omaha Storm Chasers with a final score of 7-3.
When did the Iowa Cubs play against the Omaha Storm Chasers?
The Iowa Cubs played against the Omaha Storm Chasers on April 11, 2026.
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