Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Hartshorn's Three-Hit Night Not Enough in South Bend's Postseason Opener Loss

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Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (September 😎

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Toledo MudHens (Detroit Tigers): Game canceled
Season Record: 57–78-1

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series at Birmingham Barons (Chicago White Sox): Barons lead, 1-0
Season Record: 71–61

High-A South Bend Cubs
Midwest League Playoffs vs. Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals): River Bandits lead, 1-0
Regular Season Record: 77–51

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
2026 Season Record: 50–77

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Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 57–78-1
Series Opponent: Toledo MudHens (66-61)
Series Standing: Game canceled

Sept. 8: The Iowa Cubs and the Toledo MudHens had Tuesday night’s series opener canceled due to inclement weather. The game will not be made up. The two teams will open their five-game set tonight at Principal Park at 12:08 p.m. CT.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 71–61
Series Opponent: Birmingham Barons (58–75)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

Sept. 8: The Knoxville Smokies opened their final regular season series with a 3-2 defeat, in 10 innings, to the Birmingham Barons on Tuesday night at Regions Field. The Barons took a 1-0 lead in the first before Kane Kepley (2-for-5) evened the contest with an RBI-single in the third. Knoxville would take a 2-1 lead in the fifth thanks to another RBI-single from Kepley. Birmingham would tie the game in the seventh and the 2-2 score would hold through nine innings. The Barons would keep the Smokies off the board in the 10th and would eventually walk-off the visitors to claim the 3-2 win. Brooks Caple got the start on the mound for Knoxville and took no decision. Caple spun six innings of one-run ball, earning his fourth quality start of the season. He also struck out five batters and issued one walk. Tyler Ras worked two scoreless frames out of the bullpen and gave up just one hit and whiffed four batters.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Regular Season Record: 77–51
Midwest League Division Series Opponent: Quad Cities River Bandits (70–57)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

Sept. 8: The South Bend Cubs opened their Midwest League Division Series against the Quad Cities River Bandits with an 8-3 defeat on Tuesday night at Modern Woodmen Park. The River Bandits took a 1-0 lead in the second but the Cubs hit back in the third on a two-run shot from Angel Cepeda (2-for-5) to take the lead. Josiah Hartshorn (3-for-5) crushed a solo shot in the fifth to make it 3-1 but Quad Cities stormed back with three runs in the sixth and four in the seventh to make it an 8-3 game. South Bend could not mount a late rally and will now have to earn victories on Thursday and Friday at Four Winds Field to advance in the postseason. Jostin Florentino got the start on the mound for the Cubs and took no decision. Florentino allowed one run on two hits over four innings of work, walked two and struck out six. Spots one through four in the South Bend batting order went a combined 7-for-16 (.438), while spots five through nine went 0-for-18 (.000).

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

2026 Season Record: 50–77

Sept. 8: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans’ season came to an end on Friday after both of their contests on Saturday and Sunday were rained out. The Pelicans finished the 2026 season with a 50-77 record.

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