Down on the Farm: Chicago Cubs No. 1 pitching prospect Pierce Johnson dazzles

Jacob Rogers and Cael Brockmeyer hit back-to-back home runs behind Jonathan Martinez strong start for the Kane County Cougars, and Pierce Johnson dazzled for the Tennessee Smokies in the Chicago Cubs minor league action Friday.

Iowa Cubs
Las Vegas 51s (Mets) 2, Iowa 0

Eric Jokisch allowed two runs on nine hits in six innings, but did not get any run support as Iowa fell 2-0.

Jokisch struck out six and walked only one. Rafael Lopez was 2 for 3 with half of Iowa’s hits in the game.

Kris Bryant and Jorge Soler were 0 for 4 with Bryant recording three strikeouts.

With a win by Omaha, Iowa are now tied for first place again.

Tennessee Smokies
Tennessee 2, Huntsville Stars (Brewers) 0

Pierce Johnson continued to dominate with four scoreless innings of three-hit ball while striking out seven to guide the Smokies to a 2-0 win.

Matt Loosen struck out one, gave up one hit and a walk to pick up the win. Frank Batista pitched a perfect ninth for his 10th save on the season.

Stephen Bruno went 2 for 3 with a triple and an RBI single in the second.

Tennessee now stands with a one-game lead in their division.

Daytona Cubs
Tampa Yankees 7, Daytona 2

Tyler Skulina allowed five runs, four earned, on seven innings in just 3 2/3 innings in a 7-2 Daytona loss.

The loss drops Daytona’s first place lead over Tampa to two games.

Skulina struck out three and walked two.

Dan Vogelbach was 2 for 4 with two doubles, a RBI, and a run scored. Billy McKinney was also 2 for 4 with a double and a RBI.

Kane County Cougars
Kane County 7, Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Brewers)

Jacob Rogers and Cael Brockmeyer hit back-to-back solo home runs in the second, and Trey Martin an inside-the-park homer in the fourth behind Jonathan Martinez’s ninth win of the year.

Martinez allowed two runs on six hits in five innings. He struck out two and walked none as he picked up his second win with Kane County.

Tyler Ihrig allowed only one hit in a four scoreless innings save. Ihrig struck out three and walked one.

Rogers hit his 15th homer and Brockmeyer’s followed with his sixth of the year to give Kane County an early lead. Rogers was 2 for 5 with two RBI and Brockmeyer was 1 for 4 with a walk.

Martin’s third home run this season came in the fourth to extend the deficit. Martin went 2 for 3 with a walk and an RBI while scoring three times.

Boise Hawks
Hillsboro Hops (Diamondbacks) 5, Boise 4

Jesse Hodges hit a two-run double in the bottom of the ninth to pull Boise within a run, but Bryant Flete grounded out as the Hawks comeback fell short.

Hodges was 1 for 4 on the game. Justin Marra hit a solo homer in the second for his only hit.

Starter Dillon Maples struggled to find the strike zone, he walked five and struck out four in 3 1/3 innings of three-run ball.

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