Cubs Minor League Wrap: Kepley leads South Bend past Kernels, 5-2

If I can just rant about something, MLB knows that one of the things that draws in younger fans is the idea of new, young talent coming into the game. So why do we then play the Futures Game on a Sunday morning (OK, early afternoon Eastern Time) opposite an entire slate of MLB games and the Draft? And why is it only seven innings?

Futures Game

The American League beat the National League 6-1.

Josiah Hartshorn played right field and got two at-bats. He grounded out to first and he ended the game in the bottom of the seventh with a fly out to center field.

Mason McGwire faced two batters in the seventh inning. He hit the first one and then sent him to second on a wild pitch. He then struck out the next batter on a 96.3 mph fastball. McGwire then left the game and the runner on second scored and was charged to McGwire.

Iowa Cubs

The Iowa Cubs were excommunicated by the St. Paul Saints (Twins), 5-4.

Jordan Wicks started and took the loss after he allowed two runs on four hits over three innings. The good news was that Wicks struck out five and walked no one, although he did hit one batter.

Center fielder James Triantos hit a solo home run in the second inning, his seventh on the year. Triantos went 2 for 4 with the double and the home run.

DH Moisés Ballesteros cracked a two-run home run in the fifth. Ballesteros was 2 for 3 with two walks.

Triantos’ home run.

Mo Baller goes just to the right of dead center.

Knoxville Smokies

The Knoxville Smokies were cracked by the Biloxi Shuckers (Brewers), 3-1.

Brody McCullough had been on the injured list since April 0f 2024. Today he was activated by the Smokies and got the start. He didn’t pitch poorly, but he still got the loss after allowing two runs on two hits over four innings. Both runs scored on a two-run home run in the third inning by Blake Burke. One of the two runs was unearned. McCullough struck out four and walked two, but he also hit three batters.

Right fielder Alex Ramírez singled home first baseman Drew Bowser with the only Smokies run of the game. Ramírez was 1 for 4. Bowser went 0 for 2 and he was hit by a pitch.

The Smokies managed just three singles.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs popped the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins), 5-2.

Jostin Florentino started his first game in almost two weeks. He was very strong, surrendering just one run on two hits over four innings. The one run came on a solo home run. Florentino struck out six and walked just one.

Eli Jerzembeck pitched the next two innings, didn’t allow a run and collected the win. Jerzembeck surrendered one hit. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out one.

Cole Reynolds got a three-inning save. Reynolds gave up one run on one hit and one walk. He struck out one.

Center fielder Kane Kepley scored a run in the sixth inning and hit an RBI triple in the seventh. He went 1 for 3 with the triple and a walk.

Second baseman Michael Halquist was 1 for 3 with a double and a walk. He scored once.

Kepley’s triple.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

The Myrtle Beach Pelicans were vetoed by the Fredericksburg Nationals, 8-6.

Starter David Avita took the loss after getting knocked around for four runs on give hits over three innings. He walked two and struck out one.

The Pelicans were trailing the FredNats 8-0 going into the bottom of the ninth and they managed to score six times and get the tying run to the plate. Left fielder Ethan Conrad hit a two-run home run, his second on the year and first with the Pelicans. Conrad went 1 for 4 with a walk.

Catcher Ivan Cespedes was a perfect 2 for 2 with a a double and two walks. He scored on a wild pitch.

First baseman Edward Vargas hit a two-run double in the ninth. He went 2 for 4 and also scored on Conrad’s home run.

Third baseman Derniche Valdez was 2 for 5.

Conrad’s home run [VIDEO]

ACL Cubs

Off day.