Cubs Minor League Wrap: Luis Martinez-Gomez shines in Smokies win

KNOXVILLE, TN - APRIL 01: Luis Martinez-Gomez #12 of the Knoxville Smokies poses for a photo during the Knoxville Smokies photo day at Tennessee Smokies Stadium on Wednesday, April 1, 2026 in Knoxville, Tennessee. (Photo by Randy Sartin/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images Left-hander Drew Pomeranz has elected free agency.

class="wp-block-paragraph">If you want to know why I don’t do Dominican Summer League recaps, among the many reasons is that Cubs Blue lost to Pirates Gold today 21-17. Cubs Blue drew 18 walks and issued 11 of them.

Iowa CubsRained out. Doubleheader on Saturday in Gwinnett.

Knoxville SmokiesThe Knoxville Smokies tossed out the Rocket City Trash Pandas (Angels), 4-3.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Luis Martinez-Gomez just dominated the Trash Panda. Martinez-Gomez pitched six innings and allowed two runs on two hits. Both runs scored on a home run and one of them was unearned. But Martinez-Gomez struck out a career-high 12 batters and walked no one. His career high for strikeouts before tonight was just seven. He blew past that.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Kenyi Perez relieved Martinez-Gomez to start the seventh and gave up the one-run lead after a double, a bunt and a sacrifice fly. But Perez got the win when the Smokies came back in the eighth. Perez’s final line was one run on one hit over one inning. He did not have a strikeout or a walk.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Tyler Ras retired the side in order in the ninth for the save. He also did not strike anyone out.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Right fielder Carter Trice hit a solo home run in the top of the eighth to give the Smokies the lead for good. It was Trice’s 12th home run this year. Trice also had an RBI double in the top of the first inning. Trice went 2 for 4.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Center fielder Alex Ramírez went 2 for 5 with a double. He scored once.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Here’s Trice’s RBI double and an RBI single for Andy Garriola, who was 1 for 3 with a hit by pitch.

Carter Trice and Andy Garriola get Knoxville on the board first 🤝 pic.twitter.com/pJPP6Z4We6

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 25, 2026Trice’s home run.

CARTER TRICE FOR THE LEAD 🚀 pic.twitter.com/lpdOy2OhG1

— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 25, 2026South Bend CubsThe South Bend Cubs made boots out of the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers), 9-8 in 11 innings.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Starter Alfredo Romero went 4.2 innings and allowed two runs on four hits. One of the two runs was unearned. Romero struck out five, walked one and hit one batter.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Nate Williams gave up two runs in the top of the 11th, but got the win when South Bend struck back for three runs in the bottom of the inning. Williams gave up two runs on one hit over one inning. One of the runs was unearned, naturally. Williams walked two and struck out one.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Catcher Justin Stransky singled home the winning run with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Stransky went 2 for 5 with a walk and two runs scored. He also stole a base.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Earlier in the 11th, left fielder Kade Snell had a key RBI double. He then scored the winning run on Stransky’s hit. Snell went 1 for 5.

class="wp-block-paragraph">First baseman Michael Carico hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. It was his first home run for South Bend and eighth overall. Carico was 1 for 4 with a walk and he scored twice.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Right fielder Josiah Hartshorn went 3 for 5 with a walk and four RBI.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Center fielder Kane Kepley was 1 for 2 with three walks and he reached on catcher’s interference. Kepley also stole a base. He scored two runs.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Carico’s home run.

Watch it go, Carico!@HoosierLottery Home Run | #SBCubspic.twitter.com/8nzaN9sAAX

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 25, 2026You need to watch this two-run single by Hartshorn and how Stransky leaps the catcher to avoid the tag.

Justin Stransky did WHAT??? 🤯

You tell us, #SCTop10!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/qWq1D8DbOv

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 25, 2026Terrific defense from shortstop Angel Cepeda.

Angel in the outfield (grass)!#SBCubspic.twitter.com/jZjUlrgbBh

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 25, 2026Snell’s big double.

THIS. TEAM! 🐻🐻🐻#SBCubspic.twitter.com/JWbquUIFRe

— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 25, 2026Myrtle Beach PelicansThe Myrtle Beach Pelicans split a doubleheader with the Hickory Crawdads (Rangers), winning game one 2-1 in eight innings and losing game two 2-1.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Game one of the doubleheader was scoreless through seven innings. Starter David Avitia pitched four innings, giving up just three hits. He walked two and struck out two.

class="wp-block-paragraph">David Bracho did not allow a hit over the next three innings, but he did walk three batters. Bracho didn’t strike anyone out.

class="wp-block-paragraph">After the Pelicans scored two runs in the top of the eighth, Yoendris Gonzalez gave up one unearned run on two hits in the bottom of the eight for the save. Gonzalez struck out one.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Shortstop Alexis Hernandez singled home the second run in the top of the eighth. He was 1 for 4.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Left fielder Derik Alcantara went 2 for 3.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Braylon Myers started game two and gave up one run on three hits over four innings. Myers struck out six and walked one.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Sam Mettert threw the final two innings, allowed a run on four hits, and got the loss. Mettert struck out two and walked no one.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Center fielder Ethan Conrad went 1 for 3 with an RBI double in the first inning in game two.

class="wp-block-paragraph">Catcher Ivan Cespedes was 2 for 3.

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