Labor Day is the traditional end of the Minor League season, but that’s gone a bit by the wayside with the reorganization of the minors in 2021. However, Labor Day is late enough this year that the regular season ends today for South Bend and Myrtle Beach. However, South Bend’s season will continue next week in the playoffs.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were tariffed by the Columbus Clippers (Guardians), 6-3.
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In his second rehab start with Iowa, Justin Steele pitched two innings and allowed one run on two hits. He struck out one and walked no one. Steele threw 27 pitches and 18 were strikes, so he was finding the strike zone. Steele’s velocity on his four-seam fastball was 90-to-92 miles per hour.
Kohl Franklin then pitched the next two innings and got the loss after giving up a three-run home run to Kahlil Watson. Franklin’s final line was three runs on two hits and walk. He struck out one.
Jaxon Wiggins pitched the ninth inning and coughed up a run on one hit and one walk. It was the first run Wiggins has allowed over nine relief appearances stretching over nine innings. He struck out one.
Left fielder Jordan Nwogu cranked a solo home run in the second inning and a sacrifice fly in the eighth for two total RBI. He was 1 for 3.
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Right fielder Justin Dean doubled twice in a 2 for 4 game. He drove in one.
Third baseman James Triantos was 2 for 4.
As a Michigan Wolverine, Nwogu loves terrorizing Columbus.
Dean with an RBI double after the Guardians messed up a rundown.
For the first time in his career, Kevin Alcántara played first base. He was 0 for 4 at the plate though.
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies got in the eyes of the Chattanooga Lookouts (Reds), 6-5. The Smokies now have a two-game lead over both Rocket City and Birmingham with six games to play. Of course, it doesn’t make any difference as the Smokies won the first half already, but it would be nice to win both halves.
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Connor Schultz started and held the Lookouts to just one unearned run on four hits over four innings. Schultz struck out three and walked one.
Yenrri Rojas came on to pitch the seventh inning and retired the next nine batters in order and picked up the win because Schultz didn’t go five. Rojas struck out one over those three innings.
First baseman Miguel Useche hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning. It was his 13th of the season and sixth with Knoxville. Useche went 1 for 4.
Right fielder Alex Ramírez doubled the Smokies lead to 4-0 with a two-run home run in the second inning. Ramírez was 2 for 5. It was his 15th home run this year.
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DH Andy Garriola homered with the bases empty in the third inning, his 22nd on the season. Garriola went 2 for 4.
Shortstop Alex Madera was 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the third inning.
Catcher Ariel Armas was 2 for 4.
Usche’s home run went far.
Ramírez’s home run looked like it touched the clouds.
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs finished their regular season with a 10-5 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Twins).
Anhuar Garcia started and gave the Cubs three innings. He was touched for three runs on eight hits. Garcia struck out three and walked no one.
Luke Alwood took the loss after he gave up three unearned runs in the sixth inning, all coming after two were out. Right fielder Kade Snell dropped a shallow fly that would have ended the inning. I think Snell may have lost it in the sun, but he got his glove on it and it bounced right out. Alwood’s final line was three unearned runs on one hit and three walks over 1.2 innings. He struck out two.
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First baseman Josiah Hartshorn hit two doubles and walked once in a 2 for 4 game. Hartshorn drove in three runs and scored once. He finished the season with a South Bend Cubs record 85 RBI after his promotion and he had 110 total in 122 games.
Shortstop Angel Cepeda was 2 for 5 with an RBI double.
Second baseman Jose Escobar went 1 for 3 with a walk and an RBI single.
Escobar’s RBI single.
Cepeda’s RBI double.
Josiah Hartshorn just keeps driving in runs.
South Bend finished the second half in third place with a 38-28 record after winning the first half. Their overall record was 77-51, which was the best record in the Midwest League.
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South Bend will start the best-of-three playoffs on Tuesday in the Quad Cities against the River Bandits. Games 2 and 3, if necessary, will be in South Bend on Thursday and Friday.
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Pelicans season finale was rained out.
The Pelicans finished the second half with a record of 23-40, which puts them in last place in the Carolina League South Division. Their overall record was 50-77 which was again last in their division, but at least it was better than Delmarva, who finished in last in the North Division.
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