Cubs MiLB Midweek Report: Smokies Surge, Iowa Splits, Pelicans Falter

At a Glance

• Iowa Cubs (72–67): Split two in Indianapolis; 5th in International League West, above .500 but on the playoff fringe.
   

• Knoxville Smokies (67–65): Took both from Montgomery; 3rd in Southern League North, still pushing for a late berth.
   

• South Bend Cubs (55–74 / 33–32 2nd Half): Eliminated from postseason despite second-half improvement.
   

• Myrtle Beach Pelicans (0–1): Dropped playoff opener to Columbia; must win next two to advance.

Iowa Cubs

The series in Indianapolis mirrored Iowa’s season: moments of resilience punctuated by missed opportunities.

In the first game, the Cubs grinded through ten scoreless frames before finally exploding in the 11th. Caleb Kilian carried the staff through a high-wire 10th inning, stranding the winning run at third with a strikeout to extend the game. In the 11th, Hayden Cantrelle’s sacrifice bunt moved the ghost runner to third, and James Triantos’ fielder’s choice plated the first run. From there the floodgates opened: Long and Carlos Pérez each singled in runs, Rafael Morel doubled home two more, and Parker Chavers capped the seven-run frame. Iowa’s 7–0 victory was as lopsided as the box score suggests, driven by late patience and timely contact.

On September 10, starter Antonio Santos was tagged for four runs in the first inning, capped by a three-run homer from Rafael Flores. Though Jonathon Long’s 20th blast and a two-run rally in the seventh gave Iowa life, the bullpen couldn’t stop the Indians’ steady push in an 8–3 defeat.

Season snapshot: At 72–67, the I-Cubs are above water but stuck in 5th place in the IL West. With only a handful of games left, their elimination number is shrinking fast.

Knoxville Smokies

Knoxville kept its postseason hopes alive by playing its best baseball in Montgomery.

In the first game, Brett Bateman walked and stole second to open the game, scoring on a wild pitch. Murray drilled a homer, and Nwogu added a two-run shot before Montgomery recorded the second out. That four-run first was all the cushion Tommy Romero needed, as he dealt six scoreless innings. The lineup didn’t stop there, adding four more in the late frames behind Pedro Ramirez and Murray’s bats to complete a 10–0 rout.

On September 10, the Smokies trailed 2–0 into the eighth before erupting. Casey Opitz and Jordan Nwogu reached to set the stage, BJ Murray Jr. forced in a run with a bases-loaded walk, and Ethan Hearn followed with a two-run single to give Tennessee its first lead. Montgomery tied it in the bottom half, but Nwogu answered with a go-ahead single in the ninth and a wild pitch tacked on insurance. Tyler Santana closed it with strikeouts to seal a 5–3 win.

Season snapshot: The Smokies are 67–65, sitting 3rd in the Southern League North. A postseason slot is still possible, but they’ll need to keep winning and hope the standings break their way.

South Bend Cubs

The South Bend Cubs did not play during this two-day window, but their season story is written. A rough first half buried them in the standings, yet a 33–32 second-half record showed progress. Their overall mark sits at 55–74, and by September 10, they were officially eliminated from playoff contention.

Season snapshot: South Bend never quite found its stride early, but the stronger second half suggests a step forward for a roster in transition.

Myrtle Beach Pelicans

Playoff baseball opened in Myrtle Beach, but the Pelicans stumbled against Columbia in a 4–1 loss. Ty Southisene singled and scored on Cole Mathis’s first-inning double, but the bats fell silent from there. Columbia capitalized on defensive miscues and timely hits, plating two runs in both the sixth and seventh innings.

Season snapshot: Down 0–1 in a best-of-three semifinal, the Pelicans now face elimination and must win back-to-back games to keep their season alive.

Closing Thoughts

As the minor league year winds down, the Cubs’ affiliates sit in different places. Iowa is clinging to an outside shot, Knoxville is charging late, South Bend is eliminated but showing signs of growth, and Myrtle Beach is fighting for survival in the playoffs.

Which affiliate do you believe has the best chance to extend the Cubs’ season into late September?

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