Cubs Minor League Wrap: South Bend explodes for 25 runs vs. Wisconsin

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies poached the Columbus Clingstones (Braves), 5-1. **Jake Knapp** was activated off the injured list and got the Smokies off to a good start. Knapp did not allow a run or a hit over 2.2 innings. He struck out five and walked just one. Knapp was relieved after 45 pitches by **Jace Beck**, who pitched the next three innings and got the win. Beck allowed one unearned run on two hits. He struck out three and walked one. **Frankie Scalzo Jr.** pitched the next 2.1 innings without allowing a run and **Evan Taylor** threw a scoreless ninth in a non-save situation. Left fielder **Carter Trice** hit a solo home run in the top of the first inning. It was Trice’s second-straight game with a home run, his third in four games and his fifth overall. Trice went 1 for 5. In the second inning, catcher **Ethan Hearn** connected for a solo home run, his second on the year. Hearn was 2 for 4. In the third inning, the Smokies smashed their third home run of the game. This one came with a man on and off the bat of right fielder **Alex Ramírez**. It was his third home run of the season. Ramírez was 2 for 5 with three overall runs batted in.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs called the exterminator on the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 25-6. No, that’s not a typo. South Bend actually fell behind in this game early as starter **Ethan Flanagan** allowed three runs in the bottom of the first. But Flanagan settled down and finished with three runs on five hits over four innings. He walked two, hit one batter and struck out five. South Bend came back to take a 6-4 lead into the bottom of the sixth, but **Kevin Valdez** coughed up the lead with two runs in that frame. However, Valdez got the win because South Bend scored 19 runs from the seventh through the ninth inning. Valdez’s final line was two runs on two hits over three innings. He struck out an excellent seven batters while walking two. The Cubs scored 25 runs on 20 hits and 15 walks. South Bend scored one run in the fourth, two in the fifth, three in the sixth, four in the seventh, **nine** in the eighth and six more in the ninth. Only in the ninth inning did the Rattlers throw a position player on the mound. **Matt Halbach** gave the Cubs a charge in the seventh inning with a three-run home run, his third of the year. Wisconsin literally couldn’t get Halbach out as he went 5 for 5 with two walks tonight. Halbach drove in six runs and scored five times. Catcher **Justin Stransky** hit a grand slam in the ninth off of the position player. It was his second on the season. Stransky went 1 for 3 with two walks. He scored twice and had five total runs batted in. Left fielder **Kane Kepley** was 4 for 5 with two walks and four stolen bases. He now has 23 steals in 29 games. Kepley scored five runs and drove in two. Right fielder **Leonel Espinoza** went 2 for 5 with a double and a walk. He also stole one base. Espinoza score twice and drove in two. Center fielder **Kade Snell** was 2 for 5 with two walks. Snell scored four runs and drove in two. Second baseman **Alex Madera** went 2 for 3 with three walks. Madera drove home three and scored two times. Shortstop **Christian Olivo** was 2 for 6 with a triple and a steal. He scored two runs and had two RBI. Everyone in the lineup had at least one hit. Here are some early highlights. Halbach’s home run. And here’s the nine-run eighth. The six-run ninth.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans shot five-under par against the Augusta Green Jackets (Braves), 6-1. Starter **Dominick Reid** tossed six scoreless innings and got the win. Reid surrendered just one hit and faced just one batter over the minimum. The one hit was an infield single in the fourth and that runner was thrown out trying to steal. The other baserunner was an error in the sixth. Reid struck out four. Left fielder **Geuri Lubo** clubbed a two-run home run in the second inning, his first with the Pelicans and second overall. Lubo was 1 for 4. Right fielder **Josiah Hartshorn** hit his fifth home run of the year. It came with a man on in the seventh. Hartshorn was 2 for 4 with a two-run double in the third, giving him four overall RBI. Shortstop **Alexis Hernandez** went 2 for 3 with a double and a walk. Hernandez scored twice. Highlights.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Padres, 10-9.