Chicago Cubs Minor League Report: Home Runs and Heartbreak Across the Farm

South Bend rode Josiah Hartshorn's home run and Ethan Flanagan's five strong innings to a 4-2 win over Wisconsin, with Ethan Bell closing it out. Iowa fell 4-2 in a rain-shortened game as Jaxon Wiggins struggled early, though reliever Antoine Kelly struck out three. Brody McCullough was dominant for Knoxville, but Andy Garriola's three-run homer and Ethan Hearn's solo shot were not enough as the Smokies dropped a 5-4 walk-off. Myrtle Beach was postponed.

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Rain Shortens Iowa's Loss In Gwinnett

The Iowa Cubs fell 4-2 to the Gwinnett Stripers in a game shortened to five innings by rain. Iowa scored single runs in the first and fifth innings, and Brett Bateman was the engine at the top of the order, going 2 for 2 with a double, a stolen base, and both of Iowa's runs scored.

Behind him, the offense managed only one more hit, a run-scoring single from BJ Murray, who also stole a base. Outside of Bateman and Murray, the Iowa hitters were held without a hit, and the visitors could not sustain any pressure after the opening inning. Starter Jaxon Wiggins struggled through a short outing, charged with three runs on five hits and three walks over two and two-thirds innings, striking out two, and he took the loss. The damage came in the second inning, when Gwinnett pushed across all three of its early runs against him.

Collin Snider entered to record the final out of the third inning, and Antoine Kelly followed with two steady innings of relief, allowing two hits and a single run while striking out three. Trailing 4-2 after the bottom of the fifth, Iowa never got the chance to answer, as the rain ended the game early. Bateman's pair of hits and Murray's run-scoring single accounted for the entirety of the Iowa offense against Gwinnett's pitching.

Iowa Cubs, Hitting

Iowa Cubs, Pitching

McCullough Shines But Smokies Fall In Walk-Off

The Knoxville Smokies collected a dozen hits and got a brilliant start from Brody McCullough, but they could not push enough of those baserunners across and fell 5-4 to the Rocket City Trash Pandas on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. Knoxville managed just four runs on twelve hits, stranding runners all night.

Andy Garriola carried the offense, going 2 for 4 with a three-run home run, a walk, and three runs batted in.

Ethan Hearn added a solo home run as part of a 1-for-4 night. Jefferson Rojas and Miguel Useche each doubled and finished with two hits, Alex Madera chipped in a pair of hits and a stolen base, and Karson Simas reached twice and swiped a bag. The Smokies scored once in the fourth and three more times in the seventh, but they could not find the tying run late.

McCullough was outstanding on the mound, working four and two-thirds innings of hitless ball with three strikeouts while allowing just one run. The bullpen could not hold it, however, as Frankie Scalzo Jr. surrendered three runs on four hits in the sixth to hand Rocket City the lead. Koen Moreno and Marino Santy combined for scoreless relief to keep Knoxville within striking distance, but Tyler Santana was tagged with the loss after the Trash Pandas pushed across the winning run with one out in the ninth. The Smokies' comeback bid came up one run short in a 5-4 defeat.

Knoxville Smokies, Hitting

Knoxville Smokies, Pitching

Hartshorn's Homer Lifts South Bend Past Wisconsin

The South Bend Cubs earned a 4-2 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers, powered by a big night from Josiah Hartshorn. Hartshorn was the centerpiece of the offense, going 2 for 3 with a home run, a double, a walk, two runs batted in, and three runs scored from the second spot in the order.

Jose Escobar chipped in a triple and an RBI as part of a 2-for-4 afternoon, and Angel Cepeda also collected two hits. Kade Snell doubled, walked, drove in a run, and stole a base. Leadoff man Kane Kepley reached base twice on a pair of walks, scored a run, and swiped a bag. South Bend finished with seven hits and stayed patient throughout, drawing walks to keep innings alive.

Flanagan was in control on the mound, working five innings and allowing just one run on three hits and one walk while striking out four to earn the win, his lone blemish a solo home run. The bullpen finished the job in relief, as Ben Johnson tossed two scoreless innings, Luis Rujano gave up a run over an inning and a third, and Ethan Bell retired the final two batters for the save. With the win, South Bend backed a productive night at the plate with steady pitching, holding Wisconsin to two runs and closing out a 4-2 victory.

South Bend Cubs, Hitting

South Bend Cubs, Pitching

Single-A: Myrtle Beach Postponed

Top-20 Prospect Performance

1. Jefferson Rojas (Double-A Knoxville): 2 for 5, 2B, R
2. Pedro Ramirez: Did not play
3. Jaxon Wiggins (Triple-A Iowa): Loss, 2 2/3 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 2 K
4. Josiah Hartshorn (High-A South Bend): 2 for 3, HR, 2B, 3 R, 2 RBI, BB
5. Kevin Alcantara: Did not play
6. Ethan Conrad: Did not play
7. Kane Kepley (High-A South Bend): 0 for 3, R, 2 BB, SB
8. Owen Ayers (Triple-A Iowa): 0 for 2, 2 K
9. Jonathon Long (Triple-A Iowa): 0 for 2, BB, K
10. Kaleb Wing: Did not play
11. James Triantos: Did not play
12. Brooks Caple: Did not play
13. Mason McGwire: Did not play
14. Ty Southisene: Did not play
15. Will Sanders: Did not play
16. Juan Cabada: Did not play
17. Eli Lovich: Did not play
18. Ariel Armas: Did not play
19. Jostin Florentino: Did not play
20. Grant Kipp: Did not play

Interested in learning more about the Chicago Cubs' top prospects? Check out our comprehensive top prospects list that includes up-to-date stats, articles and videos about every prospect, scouting reports, and more!

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