Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Shaw Rakes, Rojas Extends, Smokies & Pelicans Battle Late

[Travis Klosinski]

Image courtesy of © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK

Matt Shaw delivered across both games for Iowa, Jefferson Rojas stretched his on-base streak to 16, and Jaylen Palmer’s grand slam wasn’t enough to stop a wild extra-inning loss in Knoxville. Myrtle Beach split a doubleheader behind another strong start from Brooks Caple, while South Bend suffered two more late-inning collapses despite standout performances from Rojas and Andy Garriola. Can the Cubs’ top performers help turn the tide for affiliates stuck in a skid?

Farm System at a Glance:

• Iowa Cubs: 1-2 vs. St. Paul | Season: 14-18

• Knoxville Smokies: 1-1 vs. Rome | Season: 17-12

• South Bend Cubs: 0-2 @ Lansing | Season: 9-26

• Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 1-1 @ Lynchburg | Season: 12-18

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Iowa Cubs (Triple-A)
May 13: L 6-4 | May 14: L 10-5 vs. St. Paul

Jordan Wicks continued his rehab progression Tuesday with five innings of three-run ball, striking out seven along the way. He exited with the game tied, and the bullpen couldn’t hold it from there. Matt Shaw homered and Carlos Pérez tripled as Iowa clawed back, but it wasn’t enough in a 6–4 loss.

The following day, the bats broke out early. Jonathon Long drove in five runs, Shaw reached four times, and McGuire notched a two-RBI double as part of a five-run fourth. But the bullpen again gave up eight runs over the final five innings in a 10–5 loss.

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Knoxville Smokies (Double-A)
May 13: W 9-7 (10 inn.) | May 14: L 4-3 (10 inn.) vs. Rome

Jaylen Palmer’s grand slam set the tone in Tuesday’s see-saw affair. BJ Murray Jr. and Pedro Ramirez had five hits between them, and Corey Joyce added three more. After Rome tied the game in the ninth, Murray delivered the walk-off knock in extras.

Wednesday brought more late-inning tension. Knoxeville trailed early, tied it in the ninth on a Brett Bateman RBI single, but Rome scratched across a run in the tenth to even the series. Armstrong started and kept it close over five innings.

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South Bend Cubs (High-A)
May 13: L 7-6 (10 inn.) | May 14: L 4-1 @ Lansing

The Cubs let a lead slip away Tuesday night despite Jefferson Rojas extending his on-base streak to 14 games and Cristian Hernandez keeping his own hit streak alive. Andy Garriola doubled in a run, and Miguel Pabon added two more on a deep drive. South Bend went ahead in the seventh behind a Preciado double but lost it in extras after giving up three straight two-strike hits in the ninth.

Wednesday’s day game followed a familiar script. Rojas doubled twice and scored on a Garriola RBI knock in the fourth. Evan Aschenbeck tossed six shutout innings, but Lansing jumped on the bullpen for four runs in the seventh. Despite another quality start and a continued hit streak for Hernandez, South Bend dropped its 16th road game of the season.

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Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A)
May 14 DH Game 1: W 3-2 | Game 2: L 3-2 (8 inn.) @ Lynchburg

Brooks Caple returned from the IL in dominant fashion, firing five strong innings with four strikeouts. Jose Escobar ripped a go-ahead two-run single in the fifth, and Leonel Espinoza brought home the game-winner in the seventh.

Game two featured another clutch knock from Espinoza, this time a game-tying RBI single in the sixth. Myrtle Beach had the go-ahead run in scoring position in extras but couldn’t cash in. Lynchburg walked it off in the bottom of the eighth.

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