Cubs Minor League Recap: Rojas Shines with Another Home Run

A rain-shortened schedule marked the day for the Cubs’ minor league affiliates, leading to one game being rained out without a chance for rescheduling.

In more promising news, the Knoxville Smokies triumphed over the Birmingham Barons (White Sox) with a 7-4 victory, propelling the Smokies into a tie for first place in the Southern League North Division. Starter Brooks Caple earned the win after delivering a solid five-inning performance, allowing three runs on five hits. Notably, all three runs scored in the third inning, two of which came from a home run. Caple showcased his dominance on the mound, striking out seven batters while issuing no walks.

Vince Reilly sealed the win with a stellar two-inning save, during which he did not allow a run. Reilly faced minimal trouble, surrendering just one hit in the eighth inning—erased by a double play—and walking one in the ninth, striking out another batter along the way.

The turning point for the Smokies came when third baseman Jefferson Rojas launched a two-run home run, marking his ninth of the season and third in just two days. Rojas finished the game with an impressive 2-for-4 line, including a triple and two runs scored. Designated hitter Owen Ayers also contributed, going 2-for-4 and driving in Rojas after his seventh-inning triple.

In contrast, the Wisconsin game was rained out, impacting the Cubs’ magic number for clinching the second half, as South Bend maintains a five-game lead over Wisconsin with just nine games remaining in the first half.

Meanwhile, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans faced a tough battle against the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), ultimately falling short with a score of 5-4. The Pelicans squandered a stellar start from Pierce Coppola, who pitched five shutout innings, allowing just one hit and one walk while striking out five. Unfortunately, reliever Riely Hunsaker struggled, giving up three runs—one earned—over two innings, which led to his loss.

Despite the defeat, first baseman Michael Carico had a standout performance, reaching base five times with a 2-for-2 day complemented by three walks and a run scored. Catcher Jairo Diaz played a critical role in tying the game at 4-4 with an RBI double in the eighth, finishing 2-for-4 on the day. Right fielder Eli Lovich added to the offense with a two-run double in the seventh, ending the game with a 1-for-4 line and a walk.

As the minor league season progresses, teams will look to bounce back and seize opportunities in the remaining games.

Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.