Rehab Starts Show Promise
Shelby Miller got the ball rolling on his rehab assignment, tossing one inning for the Cubs. He surrendered a run on two hits but punched out two batters with no walks. Hoby Milner followed with a cleaner outing over two frames, allowing just one hit and one strikeout while keeping the bases empty. Both looked ready for the big leagues again. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, these outings mark the first time Miller has appeared in a game this year. The team needs this kind of depth as the season heats up and injuries pile up. It’s always a relief to see veterans like this get healthy and back in the mix.
Wait, the I-Cubs? They got shut down in Iowa. The squad was one-hit by the Indianapolis Pirates in a 2-0 loss that stung the whole team. Josh Fleming started the game for Iowa and took the loss after allowing that single run on four hits over three innings. He struck out two and walked no one, but he did hit one batter which hurt his command. Ben Cowles, who went 1 for 2 while drawing a walk and stealing a base, stood as Iowa’s sole hitter to record a hit. Kevin Alcántara went 0 for 3 and that ended his impressive 42-game on-base streak. The lack of offense combined with a solid pitching performance from Indianapolis made for a long night at the park. Per Bleed Cubbie Blue, the loss was a rare one-hit game for the Iowa squad.
Knoxville Falls on Walk-Off
The Double-A Knoxville Smokies also had a tough night, losing a close game to the Chattanooga Lookouts by a score of 6-5. Kevin Valdez dominated the game for Knoxville by pitching six strong innings, surrendering only three hits and one unearned run. He struck out six batters and walked only one, showing great control on the mound. Marino Santy gave up three runs in the seventh inning, which really changed the momentum of the game. Grayson Moore kept the game close by retiring the side in order in the eighth. Opening the ninth with a single, a strikeout, and a walk, he proceeded from there. With runners on first and second and one out, the team brought in Frankie Scalzo Jr. from the bullpen. Allowing a single, a bases-loaded RBI hit batter, and then a walk-off RBI single to end the game, Scalzo retired no one. It was a heartbreaking way to lose a game that looked like it would go to extra innings.
Offense and Defense Woes
Despite the losses, there were some bright spots for the Cubs’ young players. In the fourth inning, Carter Trice hit a solo home run, which was his 13th on the season. He was 1 for 3 with a walk, showing he can still get on base even when the team struggles. The minor league system is full of talent, but the teams are facing some real challenges right now. The Iowa team needs to find a way to get more hits if they want to win games against strong teams like Indianapolis. The Knoxville team needs to tighten up their late-inning defense to avoid losing games in the final seconds. According to Bleed Cubbie Blue, these results show that the path back to the majors is not always smooth. The Cubs will need their depth to step up in the coming weeks. Fans will be watching closely to see if these players can turn things around quickly. The season is long, and every game counts for the players trying to make the big club.
