Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Alcántara and Espinoza Go Deep, Hernandez Streaks, Doozy at Dozer

[Travis Klosinski]

Image courtesy of © Cody Scanlan/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Farm System at a Glance

      Affiliate Record                           Series Status

Iowa Cubs (AAA) 45–49               Split 1–1 vs Omaha

Knoxville Smokies (AA) 36–39    Trail 0–1 at Rocket City

South Bend Cubs (A+) 28–49      Split 1–1 at Peoria

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (A) 34–41 Lead 2–0 at Charleston

Iowa Cubs (Triple‑A) — Split 1–1 vs Omaha

July 1 – Loss 7–10

DES MOINES – The I‑Cubs erased a five-run deficit but fell in the ninth inning. Kevin Alcántara hit a three-run homer, his ninth of the season, in the fifth inning, and Carlos Pérez tied the game in the eighth with his 17th long ball. Moisés Ballesteros went 3-for-5 with a double and an RBI, and James Triantos added a pair of hits, including a double. The bullpen allowed a late run, handing Omaha the win.

July 2 – Win 10–6

Iowa rebounded behind Will Sanders, who allowed one earned run over five innings with five strikeouts, earning his fourth win of the year. Alcántara stayed hot with his 10th homer, while Pérez added his 18th and a double. Christian Franklin reached base five times, going 2-for-2 with three walks and a stolen base. Ballesteros contributed two RBIs before exiting with cramps. The I‑Cubs built a 10–3 lead by the seventh and held off a late Omaha rally.

Knoxville Smokies (Double‑A) — Split 1-1 at Rocket City

July 1 – Win 3-1

The Smokies won a low-scoring affair against the Trash Pandas, notching 10 hits. BJ Murray Jr. was the offensive standout, going 2-for-3 with a double and a walk.

July 2 – Loss 1–9

HUNTSVILLE – The Smokies stumbled out of the gate in Game 2 at Rocket City and never found their footing in a 9–1 loss. Starter Nick Dean struck out six across 3⅓ innings but was tagged for six earned runs on seven hits, including a pair of RBI doubles that put the Trash Pandas firmly in control. Offensively, Knoxville managed just four hits on the night. Jordan Nwogu provided a bright spot, going 2-for-4 and driving in the Smokies’ lone run with a sixth-inning single that scored Pedro Ramirez. Ramirez also contributed a hit and a run, but the Smokies went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.

South Bend Cubs (High‑A) — Down 0-2 at Peoria

July 1 – Loss 1-5

PEORIA – South Bend scores one in the first and never got on the board again. Brooks Caple delivered a solid start, going five innings and allowing three runs while striking out four.

July 2 – Loss 2–21

It was a doozy at Dozer Park. Peoria exploded for 21 runs on 21 hits, their first 20-plus run game since 2004. Hernandez plated Trice with a first-inning sacrifice fly and later blasted his fifth homer of the season in the third, extending his on-base streak to 15 games. He finished 2-for-3 with two extra-base hits and two RBIs. Rojas singled in the first to extend his streak to 14 games.

Drew Gray, returning from the injured list, threw two strong innings before surrendering a third-inning grand slam. Peoria batted around twice and scored 16 more runs over the next four frames to bury South Bend.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single‑A) — Lead 2–0 at Charleston

July 1 – Win 2–1

CHARLESTON – Leonel Espinoza turned a pitchers’ duel in the Pelicans’ favor with a two-run homer in the eighth. Starter Will Frisch worked five innings, allowing one unearned run on three hits with three strikeouts. Relievers Yoendris Gonzalez and Luis Martinez-Gomez combined for four scoreless innings to secure the win. Matt Halbach went 2-for-3, while Alexey Lumpuy added a triple.

July 2 – Win 10–0

The Pelicans unleashed a five-run sixth inning to put the game out of reach, while Ethan Flanagan pitched six shutout innings with three hits, nine strikeouts, and two walks. Alexis Hernandez went 3-for-4 with a double and an RBI, Eli Lovich added two RBIs, and Ty Southisene scored three times. Espinoza contributed an RBI double and three walks, while relievers Ethan Bell and Luis Reyes closed out the shutout. Charleston went 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base.

System Highlights

Cristian Hernandez: 15-game on-base streak with a home run, sacrifice fly, and multi-hit night in the blowout loss.

Leonel Espinoza: Go-ahead homer on July 1, patient plate appearances on July 2.

Kevin Alcántara and Carlos Pérez: Homered in back-to-back games for Iowa.

Ethan Flanagan: Career-high nine strikeouts in the Pelicans’ shutout win.

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