Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Garcia Breaks Through, Rodriguez Dazzles, Pelicans Pushed Late

[Travis Klosinski]

Image courtesy of © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Farm System at a Glance:
Iowa Cubs: 0–2 vs. St. Paul | Season: 50–54
Knoxville Smokies: 1–1 @ Chattanooga | Season: 60–45
South Bend Cubs: 0–2 vs. Quad Cities | Season: 37–60
Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 0–2 @ Charleston | Season: 47–48

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Iowa Cubs

St. Paul 6, Iowa 3 (July 29)
The I-Cubs fell behind early and couldn’t recover in the opener, with starter Walker Powell surrendering four runs over five innings. Bradlee Beesley homered for Iowa, his fourth of the season, and David Bote doubled twice in a two-hit game. Matt Mervis reached three times but was stranded each time as the Cubs went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position.

St. Paul 10, Iowa 2 (July 30)
A four-run first inning set the tone as St. Paul rolled in the finale. Riley Thompson was chased after just 1 1/3 innings, and the bullpen couldn’t contain the Saints, who posted 10 runs on 14 hits. Owen Caissie doubled and walked, while Mervis added an RBI single. Jordan Wicks, on rehab, threw a scoreless inning in relief with two strikeouts.

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Knoxville Smokies

Chattanooga 8, Knoxville 4 (July 29)
Starter Brandon Birdsell was tagged for six runs in just 3 2/3 innings, and a late Smokies rally fell short. Moisés Ballesteros doubled and singled, while Matt Shaw also reached twice. Haydn McGeary launched his 13th homer of the year, a solo shot in the ninth, but the bullpen couldn’t keep the Lookouts from tacking on insurance runs.

Knoxville 4, Chattanooga 1 (July 30)
The Smokies bounced back behind seven strong frames from Tyler Schlaffer, who allowed just one run and struck out six. Pablo Aliendo opened the scoring with a solo homer in the third—his seventh—and later singled. Jordan Nwogu had three hits, stole his 17th base, and drove in two runs during a critical seventh-inning rally that broke the game open. Zac Leigh and Brad Deppermann worked perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to seal the win.

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South Bend Cubs

Quad Cities 2, South Bend 0 (July 29)
Despite a quality start from Connor Schultz, who allowed one run over six innings, the Cubs were blanked at the plate. South Bend managed just two singles—one each from Alfonsin Rosario and Jose Escobar—while Quad Cities starter Tyson Guerrero struck out nine in six scoreless frames.

Quad Cities 2, South Bend 1 (July 30)
Erian Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings, striking out five and allowing only one earned run, but again the bats came up short. Edgar Alvarez provided the lone offense with a solo homer in the seventh, his fifth of the year. Rehabbing Cub Yency Almonte made his first appearance since May 2024 and struck out two in a perfect eighth inning.

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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Charleston 4, Myrtle Beach 2 (July 29)
Ronny Lopez tossed five shutout innings in just his second Carolina League start, and the Pelicans led 2-0 heading into the eighth thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by Leonel Espinoza and Jose Escobar. But the bullpen faltered late, with Luis Reyes allowing four runs in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch and a trio of RBI singles.

Charleston 4, Myrtle Beach 3 (July 30)
The RiverDogs again used a late-inning surge to edge the Pelicans, spoiling a strong bullpen effort. Myrtle Beach clawed back in the ninth behind a two-run double from Alexis Hernandez but came up short with the tying run on base. Dawson Netz shined in his Pelicans debut with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, while Matt Halbach and Jose Escobar added two hits each.

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