James Triantos – Picture by Todd Johnson
After 9 days of taking pictures at High Class-A baseball games, I am officially free for a few weeks. It was sunny and warm this afternoon as the first place South Bend Cubs took on Beloit, who was 1/2 game back of the Cubs.
Top Marlins’ prospect Khalil Watson drilled a low pitch over the fence off of Brandon Birdsell to give the Sky Carp a 1-0 lead. They added on to that later to make it 2-0. Birdsell, who threw 34 pitches in the first inning, only threw 7 in the second and he eventually made it through 4 innings and gave up 2 total runs. Unfortunately, the Cubs’ offense never got going except for a James Triantos solo shot. Triantos and Ezequiel Pagan both had two hits on the day, but lost 6-2 as the Cubs had two rallies stymied by getting thrown out on the basepaths. The Sky Carp moved a half a game back into first winning 6-2.
Dinger of the Day
For Iowa, who were in Indianapolis, Ben Brown only went 4 innings and struck out six, He only allowed 1 run as he gave up 2 hits and walked 2. Nelson Velazquez went 3-for-4 today but he did not drive in any runs as Iowa lost 5-1.
As for the Smokies, Cole Roederer went 2-for-4 and Bradlee Beesley went 3-for-4 but that was not enough as the Smokies lost 3-1.
In other words, there was just not a lot of offense going on today.
Starting Pitcher of the Day
When it came to the nightcap, the runs were scarce. Myrtle Beach’s Brody McCullough’s first four innings were scoreless with 8 strikeouts. It was an impressive run. But in the fifth, McCullough gave up the first and his only run of the game. He ended up going 4.2 innings. HIs ERA on the year is now 2.76.
The newest Pelican, Scarlyn Lebron gave up 2 runs in 3.1 IP. Jefferson Encarnacion had 3 hits and Reivaj Garcia had 2. That was not enough as the Birds lost 3-1.
Yesterday was a day everyo affiliate won, today, that did not happen at all.
