Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Ariel Armas Unstoppable, Smokies Split, Iowa Rallies

[Travis Klosinski]

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

Farm System at a Glance

Affiliate	Series Record	Season Record
Iowa Cubs	1–1 @ Toledo & St. Paul	49–60
Knoxville Smokies	1–1 vs. Biloxi	59–49
South Bend Cubs	2–0 vs. Fort Wayne	42–61
Myrtle Beach Pelicans	0–1 vs. Fredericksburg	51–49

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Iowa Cubs

August 5 – St. Paul 10, Iowa 5
The I-Cubs' pitching just didn't show up for this one, as starter Chris Kachmar got lit up to the tune of six runs, four hits, and five walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Gavin Hollowell also gave up four runs in his lone inning of work, though none of them were earned thanks to a throwing error from Ben Cowles. At least Miguel Amaya and Moises Ballesteros combined for three hits and three RBIs.

August 6 – Iowa 7, St. Paul 4
In a bounce-back win to open a road set in Minnesota, Iowa erupted for six runs in the seventh inning to erase a deficit and secure a 7–4 victory. The offense capitalized on erratic pitching from the Saints' bullpen, even though Taj Bradley delivered a strong start with six quality innings.

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Knoxville Smokies

August 5 – Smokies 5, Shuckers 4
Trailing 4–3 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Smokies found late-inning magic. Pedro Ramirez drew a walk and later scored the tying run on a throwing error, then Reivaj Garcia followed with a go-ahead single. Brad Deppermann shut the door with a scoreless ninth, and Tyler Santana earned the win with two clean frames. Jaylen Palmer’s two-run triple was the early spark.

August 6 – Shuckers 8, Smokies 4
The Smokies carried a 1-run lead into the eighth but were undone by sloppy relief work and a costly error. Biloxi erupted for six runs in the frame off Mitchell Tyranski and Zac Leigh, and Knoxville’s ninth-inning push fell short despite a two-run single by Brett Bateman. Jefferson Rojas reached base four times and Pedro Ramirez stole his 26th bag.

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South Bend Cubs

August 5 – South Bend 6, Fort Wayne 5
South Bend rallied from an early 3–0 hole and held on late for a 6–5 win. Debuting outfielder Kade Snell doubled in his first professional at-bat, and Ariel Armas delivered a 3-for-3, four-RBI performance that included a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth. Connor Schultz struck out six across five innings, and Luis Rujano earned the save after a nail-biting ninth.

August 6 – South Bend 8, Fort Wayne 2
The Cubs pounced on the TinCaps bullpen and never looked back. Armas doubled twice and drove in four more runs, becoming the first player in South Bend Cubs history with three different 3-hit, 4-RBI games in the same season. Erian Rodriguez earned the win with six solid innings, while the bullpen trio of Yency Almonte, Grayson Moore, and Kenyi Perez closed the door.

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Myrtle Beach Pelicans

August 5 – Fredericksburg 7, Myrtle Beach 3
The Nationals ambushed Ronny Lopez for five first-inning runs, including a grand slam by Angel Feliz, and held off the Pelicans from there. Angel Cepeda cut the deficit with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Myrtle Beach’s bullpen kept things close, but the offense couldn’t complete the comeback.

August 6 – Postponed
Wednesday’s game was postponed due to rain. The teams will play a doubleheader on August 7 beginning at 6:05 PM ET.

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