Cubs Minor League Wrap: Grant Kipp shines in Smokies shutout

The Knoxville Smokies made the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins) blue, 3-0.

Grant Kipp and Luis Martinez-Gomez combined on the shutout. Kipp was terrific, allowing just one walk over five innings. He struck out seven and walked no one,

Martinez-Gomez got the four-inning save after allowing four hits but walking no one and striking out four.

Right fielder Alex Ramírez was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the second inning. He also stole two bases, including stealing home in the first inning as part of a double steal of second and home.

Left fielder Jordan Nwogu was 1 for 3 with two walks and an RBI single in the second inning.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs crashed out against the Beloit Sky Carp (Marlins), 6-5.

Starter Cole Reynolds gave up two runs on just one hit over four innings. Reynolds walked three and struck out three.

Kenton Egbert pitched the next three innings and took the loss. He surrendered two runs on two hits and a walk. Egbert struck out four.

South Bend trailed the Sky Carp 6-2 heading to the bottom of the ninth. They scored three times but were unable to get the fourth run home from second base when center fielder Kane Kepley grounded out. But Kepley scored the first run of the game when he walked to lead off the bottom of the first, stole second, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly. Kepley went 0 for 3 with two walks and the two steals.

Third baseman Reginald Preciado was 2 for 4 with an RBI single in the fourth. Preciado also scored a run in the ninth on an error.

Here’s Kepley getting his uniform dirty in the first inning.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were shot down by the Kannapolis Cannon Ballers (White Sox), 5-2 in ten innings.

The Birds got three strong innings from starter Edwardo Melendez, who allowed only one hit. Unfortunately, it was a solo home run to lead off the second inning. But the only other baserunner Melendez allowed was a hit batsman and he immediately removed that baserunner with a 4-6-3 double play. Melendez struck out five.

Jordan Henriquez pitched the top of the tenth and took the loss. Henriquez gave up three runs, two earned, on two hits. He struck out one and did not walk anyone.

Third baseman Derniche Valdez hit his first Pelicans home run with the bases empty in the second inning. Valdez went 1 for 4.

The Pelicans had just three hits in this game.

The Valdez home run.