Chicago Cubs Minor League Wrap: July 17

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs stopped the Toledo Mud Hens (Tigers), 3-2.

Justin Steele threw 60 pitches over three innings as the Cubs stretch him out in the hopes of making him a starter. Steele allowed no runs and just one hit. He walked two and struck out five.

Scott Effross took over for Steele and got the win because Steele didn’t go five innings. Effross pitched two innings and gave up one run on one hit, a solo home run by Christin Stewart. Effross walked one and struck out three.

Dillon Maples allowed two hits but no runs in his one inning of work in a rehab assignment. Maples struck out one and walked no one.

Ben Leeper picked up his first Triple-A save, but not without some difficulty. He gave up a solo home run to lead off the ninth inning, which was also the first hit he allowed over 14.2 innings in Triple-A. Leeper then walked two more batters and advanced them to second and third on a wild pitch. But Leeper got Kody Clemens to foul out to finally end the game.

Leeper’s final line was one run on one hit over 1.1 innings. He walked two and struck out two.

Ian Miller led off the game with a solo home run, his first of the year. Miller went 1 for 3 with two walks.

Michael Hermosillo made it 2-0 in the top of the third with a monster solo home run that apparently nailed the roof of a passing car in the street beyond left field. It was his seventh home run of 2021. The next time up, Hermosillo struck out and was ejected by home plate umpire Chris Marco for arguing the call. Hermosillo went 1 for 3.

There were two other rehab appearances in Toledo today. David Bote played five innings of second base and went 0 for 2 with a walk. Matt Duffy played six innings of third base and was 1 for 4.

Here’s that monster Hermosillo home run. The Toledo broadcasters seemed confident the ball hit the silver car that passed by.

Tennessee Smokies

The Tennessee Smokies shut out the Mississippi Braves, 2-0.

Luis Lugo took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and finished allowing just two hits over six innings. Lugo struck out seven and walked one. It was his third win of the season.

Ethan Roberts pitched a scoreless ninth inning and got the save. He allowed one hit. Roberts struck out two and walked no one.

Center fielder Brennen Davis gave the Smokies a 1-0 lead in the third inning with his fifth home run of the season. Davis also doubled in a 2 for 4 game.

The other Smokies run came when first baseman Jared Young doubled in the sixth inning and scored on an error. Young was 1 for 4.

Catcher Tyler Payne went 2 for 4.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs popped the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 7-3. It’s South Bend’s fourth-straight win over the Kernels.

Samuel Reyes pitched the first three innings without allowing a run. Reyes surrendered just one hit and issued just one walk. He struck out three.

Rowan Wick pitched the sixth inning on a rehab assignment and looked impressive. He struck out the side in order on 13 pitches. Ten pitches were strikes.

The win went to Eduarniel Nunez after South Bend exploded for five runs in the eighth inning. Nunez pitched two innings and gave up no runs on one hit. He walked two and did not strike anyone out. He pitched out of a bases-loaded, one-out situation in the seventh inning thanks to two ground balls.

Shortstop Delvin Zinn was 2 for 4 with a walk and one run batted in.

Catcher Harrison Wenson hit a two-run double in the eighth inning. He was 1 for 4.

Bryce Ball was the DH tonight in his Cubs organization debut. He was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk.

Reader Paul Stearns shared this photo of Wick pitching for South Bend tonight.

Paul Stearns

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans and the Columbia Fireflies (Royals) traded shutouts today. In game one, the Fireflies shut out the Pelicans 7-0 and the Pelicans came back to shut out the Fireflies 2-0 in game two.

DJ Herz returned to the active roster and started game one. He got the loss after giving up two runs on four hits over four innings. Herz walked two and struck out three.

Second baseman Fabian Pertuz was 2 for 2 in game one.

Jeremiah Estrada pitched the first four innings of game two, giving up just three hits. He struck out two and walked no one.

Jarod Wright completed the shutout by pitching the final three innings and earning his first professional win. Wright allowed five hits. He struck out two and walked no one.

Second baseman Fabian Pertusz singled home Jordan Nwogu with the first run of the game in the bottom of the fifth. Pertusz was 1 for 2 and Nwogu was 1 for 2 with a double.

Highlights.

ACL Cubs

Beat the Athletics, 2-1.