Iowa Cubs Fall as Pomeranz Debuts, Egbert Struggles in Des Moines
The Triple-A Iowa Cubs lost 8-5 to the Buffalo Bisons on Sunday, but the bigger story for Des Moines fans was the arrival of two new arms. Veteran left-hander Drew Pomeranz made his Iowa debut with a clean inning, while newly promoted right-hander Kenten Egbert had a rough outing in his first Triple-A start. Across the Cubs farm system, it was a tough day on the mound, with affiliates in Knoxville, South Bend, and Myrtle Beach all taking losses.
What happened with the Iowa Cubs on Sunday?
The Iowa Cubs couldn't keep pace with Buffalo, falling 8-5 at Principal Park. The damage came early, as Egbert, who was just promoted from High-A South Bend, got hit hard. He allowed eight runs, five earned, on eight hits over just 2.2 innings. Egbert walked five batters and struck out two.
For Iowa fans, the bright spot was Pomeranz. The veteran southpaw pitched the fourth inning in his first appearance with the club. He issued a two-out walk but nothing else, striking out two batters. Pomeranz brings major league experience to the Des Moines bullpen and could be a key piece as the season progresses.
Reliever Cobin Martin provided three scoreless innings, allowing only a leadoff walk in the seventh while striking out one. Catcher Christian Bethancourt even pitched two scoreless innings to close out the game, saving the rest of the bullpen.
At the plate, Scott Kingery hit a solo home run in the third inning, his second of the season. Kingery also recorded the final out of the top of the third inning on the mound, getting a groundout on a 36 mile per hour curve ball after Egbert was pulled. Owen Miller went 2 for 5 with a run scored, and James Triantos added a walk and two RBI.
How did Edgar Alvarez and the Knoxville Smokies fare?
The Double-A Knoxville Smokies lost 10-5 to the Birmingham Barons. Starter Koen Moreno went four innings and allowed three runs, one unearned, on four hits. He walked two and struck out four. Erian Rodriguez took the loss after giving up five runs on three hits and three walks over 1.2 innings.
Third baseman Edgar Alvarez provided the offensive highlight, blasting his eighth home run of the year, a three-run shot in the fifth inning. Alvarez finished 2 for 5. Catcher Owen Ayers had a perfect day at the plate, going 4 for 4 with a double, a walk, and three runs scored. Alex Ramírez went 2 for 5 with an RBI double and a stolen base, while Andy Garriola added two hits, an RBI double, and a walk.
Did the South Bend Cubs and Myrtle Beach Pelicans win?
The High-A South Bend Cubs suffered a brutal 7-2 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits. South Bend had been leading 2-0 heading into the ninth, thanks to an outstanding start from Alfredo Romero. The righty pitched five scoreless innings, allowing just one hit with five strikeouts and no walks.
The bullpen collapsed in the ninth. Ethan Bell took the loss, surrendering five runs on four walks and one hit over one-third of an inning. Grayson Moore also struggled as Quad Cities scored seven runs in the frame. Kane Kepley hit his fourth home run of the season for South Bend, which managed only four hits total.
The Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans lost 7-6 to the Salem RidgeYaks in walk-off fashion. Brody McCullough started on a rehab assignment and pitched three innings of one-run ball, striking out four. Third baseman Yahil Melendez tied the game with a two-run homer in the top of the ninth, his second of the year. But reliever Aiden Moffat walked all three batters he faced in the bottom of the ninth, and Edwardo Melendez gave up a walk-off single to the only batter he faced.
Why does Pomeranz matter for Iowa?
Drew Pomeranz is a former first-round draft pick with years of major league experience. His arrival in Des Moines gives the Iowa Cubs a seasoned left-hander who can stabilize the bullpen or work his way back to Chicago. For fans tracking the Cubs' playoff hopes, Pomeranz's progress is worth watching closely.