Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Hartshorn Breaks South Bend RBI Record in Cubs' 8-4 Win

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Chicago Cubs Minor League Report (September 2)

Affiliate Overview

Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series at Columbus Clippers (Cleveland Guardians): Clippers lead, 1-0
Season Record: 56–74-1

Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Chattanooga Lookouts (Cincinnati Reds): Smokies lead, 1-0
Season Record: 68–58

High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins): Cubs lead, 1-0
Season Record: 73–50

Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series vs. Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Fireflies lead, 1-0
Season Record: 47–77

Triple-A: Iowa Cubs

Season Record: 56–74-1
Series Opponent: Columbus Clippers (70-60)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

Sept. 1: The Iowa Cubs opened their series at the Columbus Clippers with a 7-6 defeat on Tuesday night at Huntington Park. Justin Dean’s (0-for-3) sacrifice fly in the second gave the Cubs the lead but the Clippers responded with two runs in the home half of the frame to go in front 2-1. Columbus added another run in the fourth but Iowa hit back with a three-spot in the fifth to take a 4-3 lead. Two would score, one via error, on Owen Miller’s triple (3-for-5), and one would score on Jordan Nwogu’s (3-for-5) double. The I-Cubs made it 6-3 in the sixth when Miller doubled home a run and Owen Ayers (1-for-4) followed with an RBI-single. The Clippers cut the lead to two by scoring a run in the home half of the sixth and would eventually go ahead with three runs in the eighth to make it 7-6. The Cubs would get the tying run to third in the ninth but could not bring the runner home. Kohl Franklin got the start on the mound for Iowa and took no decision. Franklin allowed three runs on five hits over 4 2/3 innings of work, walked three and struck out two. Edward Cabrera, making his first rehab appearance with the Cubs since being placed on the IL on Aug. 17, allowed a solo home run in his inning in relief and whiffed two.

Double-A: Knoxville Smokies

Season Record: 68–58
Series Opponent: Chattanooga Lookouts (56–71)
Series Standing: Lead, 1-0

Sept. 1: The Knoxville Smokies opened their series vs. the Chattanooga Lookouts with a 12-3 victory on Tuesday night at Covenant Health Park. The Smokies broke the deadlock in the third thanks to a three-run homer from Carter Trice (1-for-4). The Lookouts cut the lead to one by scoring twice in the sixth but Knoxville was able to put up a four spot in the bottom of the inning to make it 7-2. Drew Bowser (0-for-2) worked a walk with the bases loaded and then Karson Simas (2-for-3) followed with a bases-clearing triple. Chattanooga pulled another run back in the eighth but the Smokies responded with five more in the home half of the frame to put the contest out of reach. Alex Ramírez (1-for-5) brought home three on a double and then came around to score on Miguel Useche’s (1-for-5) RBI-single. Edgar Alvarez (1-for-2) then made it 12-3 with an RBI-double. Kevin Valdez got the start on the mound for Knoxville and earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season. Valdez allowed two runs on two hits over five innings of work, walked two and struck out seven.

High-A: South Bend Cubs

Season Record: 73–50
Series Opponent: Cedar Rapids Kernels (47–78)
Series Standing: Lead, 1-0

Sept. 1: The South Bend Cubs started their final series of the regular season with an 8-4 triumph over the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Tuesday night at Four Winds Field. The Kernels took a 1-0 lead in the first and then doubled their advantage with a run in the third. The Cubs responded with three in the home half of the third to take the lead. Angel Cepeda (3-for-4) singled home a run and Jose Escobar (1-for-4) followed two batters later with a two-run double. Cedar Rapids made it 3-3 with a run in the fourth but South Bend would take the lead for good in the ballgame with three runs in the fifth. Kade Snell (2-for-4) got the scoring started with an RBI-triple and came around to score on Cepeda’s two-run shot that made it 6-3. The Kernels pulled one back in the sixth but solo shots from Josiah Hartshorn (2-for-3) and Cepeda in the eighth made it 8-4, putting the contest out of reach. Hartshorn’s blast was his 18th at High-A and 23rd overall on the season. The Cubs’ sixth round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft upped his RBI tally with South Bend to 82, which sets a new franchise record, needing just 78 games to reach that mark. Jostin Florentino got the start on the mound for the Cubs and took no decision. Florentino allowed three runs on six hits over 3 1/3 innings of work, walked one and struck out four.

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Season Record: 47–77
Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (64–62)
Series Standing: Trail, 1-0

Sept. 1: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans opened their final series of the 2026 season with a 13-6 defeat to the Columbia Fireflies on Tuesday night at Pelicans Ballpark. The Pelicans took a 1-0 lead in the first on a wild pitch but the Fireflies would take a 6-1 lead in the contest by scoring three times in both the third and fourth innings. Myrtle Beach made it 6-3 in the fourth through an RBI-triple from Eli Lovich (1-for-2) and an RBI-single from Alexis Hernandez (3-for-4). The Fireflies made it 10-3 by scoring once in the fifth and three more times in the sixth. Derniche Valdez (2-for-4) singled home a run in the sixth but Columbia got that run right back in the seventh to make it 11-4. The visitors then added two more in the eighth before Hernandez launched a solo home run later in the inning and Corey Nunez (2-for-5) picked up an RBI-single in the ninth that made it 13-6. Jubrayker Salaya got the start on the mound for the Pelicans and took the loss, falling to 0-2 on the season. Salaya allowed three runs on five hits over three innings of work, struck out five and walked none.

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