Jordan Wicks – Picture by Todd Johnson

Today was a really busy day here at home. So, it was nice to sit down and just check out the minor leagues tonight. With the windows wide-open and cool air coming in the house; it was a nice refreshing evening.

Debut of the Night

Yup. Jordan Wicks pitched the game of his life in his MLB debut. He went five innings and allowed 1 run on the Ke’Bryan Hayes dinger. He gave up a second hit to the second batter and that was it for hits on the night as Wicks then went into beast mode. Over the next five frames, he allowed 1 walk and no hits as he wound up throwing 80 pitches, 47 for strikes.

The Early Wet Birds

What made it even nicer was that Brian Kalmer went yard again. The 18th round draft pick out of Gonzaga has been destroying baseballs at Myrtle Beach for a few weeks now. I am excited to see him bring that bat to South Bend to start 2024 as he and Jonathan Long make a nice 1-2 combo at the plate. On the mound, Drew Gray had it going. In two innings, he had 5 Ks but he -did give up a run on a wild pitch.

And then the rains came!

The Birds will play a doubleheader tomorrow starting at 3:30 Central.

Matt Shaw Needs to Be Promoted Thought of the Day

A two run triple in the first began the night for Matt Shaw and that was about the highlight of the night for South Bend. Cedar Rapids poured it on early and did not stop. It was 12-3 after 3.

3 Hit Club

As for the rest of the game, the Kernels went on to win 14-5. Shaw did go 3-for-5 and was the only member of today’s 3 Hit Club.

In Tennessee

Kohl Franklin was humming along heading into the fourth inning tonight and then in came 3 runs over the next two frames for the Lookouts. That ended his night after 76 pitches. He did have five Ks, but sometimes Ks are not enough. Then in the sixth, the Lookouts got two more to go up five to zip.

And then the rains came again…in Tennessee.

Eventually, the rain lifted and the game resumed, ironically, with Chattanooga scoring again.

The offense for the Smokies seems to have disappeared this week and tonight was no different. The PCA promotion has taken a toll a toll at the top of the order. Today, only Nelson Maldonado (X2), Scottie McKeon, Levi Jordan and Owen Caissie had hits in a 6-0 loss.

Back in Indiana

Matt Mervis had another homer against the Indians. At the time, it gave the I-Cubs a 2 run-lead. Indianapolis came back and evened it up after five. The lookouts later took the lead in the sixth. In the seventh, a Chase Strumpf triple tied it up at 3 and brought in Luis Vazquez. PCA then brought Strumpf in with a single to give the Cubs the lead at 4-3.

The bullpen shut down the Indians as Stephen Gonsalves, Chris Clarke, and Michael Rucker pitched three scoreless frames to seal the deal.