Travis Klosinski

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs designated RHP Jake Woodford for assignment. Chicago Cubs activated RHP Phil Maton from the 15-day injured list. Taillon Tosses Scoreless Outing As Iowa Cubs Beat Saints, 8-2 Jameson Taillon allowed one hit and one walk over 4 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out three, and the Iowa Cubs beat the St. Paul Saints, 8-2. Iowa scored in each of the first four innings. In the first, Moisés Ballesteros singled, Owen Miller doubled, and Chas McCormick singled them both home for a 2-0 lead. In the second, Brett Bateman tripled home James Triantos and Scott Kingery. Kingery added an RBI single in the third to score McCormick, and in the fourth, Bateman singled, moved to third on a double by Miller, and scored on a wild pitch to make it 6-0. The Saints scored twice in the seventh against Ty Blach on an RBI single and a run-scoring groundout. Iowa answered in the eighth when Ben Cowles hit a two-run home run, his fifth of the season, scoring Triantos Miller finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, Bateman went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI, and a walk, and Triantos went 1-for-2 with two walks and two runs scored. Blach allowed two runs over 2 1/3 innings, Jayden Murray struck out two in a scoreless inning, and Liam Hendriks struck out one in a scoreless inning to close it out. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 4 1 2 2 1 1 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 1 1 Moisés Ballesteros 5 1 1 0 0 1 Owen Miller 4 1 3 0 0 0 Chas McCormick 3 1 1 2 1 0 Christian Bethancourt 4 0 1 0 0 3 James Triantos 2 2 1 0 2 0 Scott Kingery 3 1 1 1 1 0 Ben Cowles 4 1 1 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jameson Taillon 4 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 Ty Blach 2 1/3 2 2 2 2 2 0 Jayden Murray 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Liam Hendriks 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Beck Strikes Out Nine, But Smokies Fall To Shuckers, 3-1 Jace Beck struck out nine over five innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk, but the Knoxville Smokies lost to the Biloxi Shuckers, 3-1. Knoxville took the lead in the third. With two outs, Drew Bowser singled, and Jefferson Rojas doubled him home, his 13th double of the season, for a 1-0 advantage. Biloxi answered in the fourth with a solo home run off Beck to tie the game. The game stayed tied until the eighth, when Biloxi scored twice against Tyler Schlaffer. A sacrifice fly put the Shuckers ahead 2-1, and an RBI single made it 3-1, with the batter thrown out at second base on the play. Schlaffer allowed two runs on one hit and one walk over three innings, striking out three. Tyler Ras struck out one in a scoreless inning. The Smokies managed just five hits and went quiet after the third inning. Bowser finished 2-for-3 with a run scored, Alex Madera went 2-for-4, and Rojas went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI. Knoxville drew three walks, from Owen Ayers, Carter Trice, and Ariel Armas, but stranded six runners on base in the loss. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Jefferson Rojas 4 0 1 1 0 0 Owen Ayers 3 0 0 0 1 1 Andy Garriola 4 0 0 0 0 2 Carter Trice 3 0 0 0 1 0 Ariel Armas 2 0 0 0 1 0 Alex Madera 4 0 2 0 0 1 Karson Simas 3 0 0 0 0 0 Drew Bowser 3 1 2 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jace Beck 5 3 1 1 1 9 1 Tyler Schlaffer 3 1 2 2 1 3 0 Tyler Ras 1 1 0 0 0 1 0 Cubs' Seventh-Inning Lead Slips Away In 11-7 Loss To Kernels The South Bend Cubs fought back from a 5-0 deficit to take the lead in the seventh, but the Cedar Rapids Kernels answered with a six-run inning of their own, and South Bend lost, 11-7. Starter Alfredo Romero allowed four runs on six hits over 4 2/3 innings, walking one and striking out four. Cedar Rapids scored twice in the fourth and three more in the fifth, the last run charged to Nate Williams, to build a 5-0 lead. South Bend rallied in the sixth. Jose Escobar doubled home Kane Kepley, and Angel Cepeda followed with a two-run home run, his first of the season, to cut it to 5-3. The Cubs took the lead in the seventh. Michael Hallquist doubled, Christian Olivo singled, and Kepley walked. Escobar's sacrifice fly scored Hallquist, Olivo stole home to tie the game, and Matt Halbach singled home Kepley for a 6-5 lead. The lead did not last. Ben Johnson recorded just one out in the bottom of the seventh and was charged with five runs, including a two-run double and a three-run home run. Grayson Moore allowed an unearned run over 1 2/3 innings. Olivo finished 3-for-4 with a double, a walk, and an RBI single in the eighth, Hallquist went 2-for-4 with a double and a triple, and Escobar drove in two runs. Player AB R H RBI BB K Christian Olivo 4 1 3 1 1 0 Kane Kepley 4 2 1 0 1 1 Jose Escobar 4 1 1 2 0 2 Angel Cepeda 5 1 1 2 0 1 Matt Halbach 4 0 1 1 0 1 Miguel Useche 3 0 0 0 2 2 Logan Poteet 4 0 0 0 0 4 Justin Stransky 4 0 1 0 0 0 Michael Hallquist 4 2 2 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Alfredo Romero 4 2/3 6 4 4 1 4 0 Nate Williams 1 1/3 2 1 1 2 2 0 Ben Johnson 1/3 2 5 4 2 1 1 Grayson Moore 1 2/3 3 1 0 1 1 0 Cespedes' Three-Run Homer In Eighth Lifts Pelicans Past Nationals, 8-7 Ivan Cespedes hit a three-run home run in the bottom of the eighth, his second of the season, and the Myrtle Beach Pelicans came back to beat the Fredericksburg Nationals, 8-7. Starter Noah Edders struck out seven over 4 1/3 innings, allowing three runs, two earned, on two hits and three walks. Fredericksburg took a 1-0 lead in the second when a runner scored on a throwing error during a double steal, but Geuri Lubo answered with an RBI double in the bottom half, scoring Jose Silva. Myrtle Beach broke out in the third. Alexis Hernandez led off with a home run, his second of the season, Derniche Valdez tripled home Alexey Lumpuy, and Silva singled home Valdez for a 4-1 lead. Valdez added a sacrifice fly in the fourth to make it 5-1. The Nationals chipped away with two runs in the fifth, a solo home run in the sixth, and three runs in the seventh, including a two-run homer off Jhon Rosario, to take a 7-5 lead. In the eighth, Silva and Jairo Diaz walked, and Cespedes homered to left center to put the Pelicans ahead, 8-7. Edwardo Melendez struck out three over two scoreless innings to finish the game. Hernandez went 2-for-4 with a walk, and Valdez went 2-for-4 with a triple and two RBI. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 4 2 2 1 1 0 Alexey Lumpuy 3 1 2 0 2 1 Derniche Valdez 4 1 2 2 0 0 Eli Lovich 4 0 0 0 0 2 Jose Silva 2 2 1 1 2 1 Jairo Diaz 3 1 0 0 1 2 Geuri Lubo 3 0 1 1 1 0 Ivan Cespedes 4 1 1 3 0 2 Edward Vargas 4 0 0 0 0 3 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Noah Edders 4 1/3 2 3 2 3 7 0 Jhon Rosario 2 2/3 4 4 4 0 1 2 Edwardo Melendez 2 1 0 0 2 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, 2B, RBI Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: DNP Kevin Alcantara: DNP Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-4, BB, K Owen Ayers: 0-for-3, BB, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-4, BB, K Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 1-for-2, 2 BB Brooks Caple: DNP Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 0-for-4, 2 K Ariel Armas: 0-for-2, BB Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions No Roster Moves Bethancourt Homers Twice, Long Goes 5-For-5 As Iowa Pounds Saints 21-7 The Iowa Cubs collected 24 hits and buried the St. Paul Saints 21-7, breaking the game open with a six-run fourth inning and piling on nine more in the eighth. Trailing 2-1 in the fourth, Christian Bethancourt tied it with a solo home run. Scott Kingery followed with a solo shot of his own, Jonathon Long added an RBI single, Owen Miller drove in a run with a double, and Moisés Ballesteros capped the inning with a two-run double for a 7-2 lead. The eighth was even bigger. Brett Bateman doubled home Bethancourt, BJ Murray and Miller added run-scoring hits, Ballesteros lined a two-run single, James Triantos singled in another run, and Bethancourt finished the nine-run frame with a three-run homer to center. Long finished 5-for-5 with a home run, two doubles, a walk, five runs scored, and two RBIs. Bethancourt went 3-for-5 with two homers and five RBIs. Murray had three hits and three RBIs, Miller doubled twice, drove in three, and had some quick defensive work. Ballesteros drove in four, and Triantos went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. Starter Josh Fleming allowed two runs over four innings, walking two and striking out two. Corbin Martin earned the win, and Liam Hendriks worked a perfect inning with a strikeout. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 6 3 3 1 0 2 Jonathon Long 5 5 5 2 1 0 BJ Murray 5 3 3 3 1 0 Owen Miller 5 2 2 3 0 1 Moisés Ballesteros 5 2 2 4 1 1 Chas McCormick 6 1 2 0 0 2 James Triantos 5 1 3 2 1 1 Christian Bethancourt 5 3 3 5 1 0 Scott Kingery 6 1 1 1 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Josh Fleming 4 4 2 2 2 2 0 Corbin Martin 1 1 1 1 0 0 1 Aaron Bummer 1 2 2 2 0 1 0 Collin Snider 1 2 1 1 2 0 0 Liam Hendriks 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Antoine Kelly 1 2 1 1 1 1 0 Howard Homers, But Smokies Fall 11-2 To Biloxi The Knoxville Smokies managed just four hits and struck out 15 times in an 11-2 loss to the Biloxi Shuckers. Not much to say about the bats but the gloves had a few shining moments last night. Starter Nick Dean opened with 1 1/3 scoreless innings, walking one and striking out two. Kenyi Perez followed with 2 2/3 scoreless innings of his own, striking out three while working around three walks and three hits. The game unraveled from there. Yenrri Rojas was charged with four runs over 1 2/3 innings, walking four, and took the loss. Tyler Santana allowed four more runs over two innings, and Frankie Scalzo Jr. gave up three runs in 1 1/3 innings to close it out. The Knoxville offense broke through in the sixth inning. Ariel Armas drew a walk, moved into scoring position, and came home on an Alex Ramírez single to center to make it 6-1. In the eighth, Ed Howard lined a solo home run to left center, his second of the season, for the final Knoxville run. Howard was the lone bright spot at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with the homer. The rest of the lineup combined for two hits, with Owen Ayers, Edgar Alvarez, and Drew Bowser each striking out three times. Jefferson Rojas went 0-for-3 with a walk. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 4 0 1 1 0 0 Jefferson Rojas 3 0 0 0 1 0 Owen Ayers 4 0 0 0 0 3 Carter Trice 3 0 0 0 1 2 Edgar Alvarez 4 0 0 0 0 3 Karson Simas 4 0 1 0 0 2 Drew Bowser 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ariel Armas 2 1 0 0 1 1 Ed Howard 3 1 2 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nick Dean 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 2 0 Kenyi Perez 2 2/3 3 0 0 3 3 0 Yenrri Rojas 1 2/3 1 4 4 4 4 0 Tyler Santana 2 3 4 4 4 3 1 Frankie Scalzo Jr. 1 1/3 5 3 3 2 1 1 Halbach's Three Hits, Five-Run Ninth Carry South Bend Past Cedar Rapids 9-1 The South Bend Cubs broke open a close game with a five-run ninth inning and beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 9-1 behind a strong night of pitching. Starter Kevin Valdez allowed one run over four innings, walking one and striking out three. The bullpen did not allow a run behind him. Luis Rujano earned the win with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts, Brayden Spears added two scoreless innings of his own, and Ethan Bell finished with a scoreless ninth. South Bend scored twice in the third. After Logan Poteet singled and walks to Michael Hallquist and Christian Olivo loaded the bases, Poteet scored on a wild pitch during Josiah Hartshorn's plate appearance, and Hallquist came home on a Jose Escobar sacrifice fly. In the fourth, Hallquist singled home Matt Halbach, and Hartshorn was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to make it 4-1. The ninth put it away. Hartshorn drove in Hallquist on a fielder's choice, Halbach followed with a two-run single, and two more runs scored on wild pitches to stretch the lead to 9-1. Halbach finished 3-for-5 with two RBIs and a stolen base. Hallquist went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and two runs scored, and Hartshorn drove in two runs. Defensively of note was Angel Cepeda's play in the 6th. Player AB R H RBI BB K Christian Olivo 4 1 1 0 1 1 Josiah Hartshorn 3 1 0 2 0 1 Jose Escobar 4 0 0 1 0 2 Angel Cepeda 4 1 0 0 1 0 Matt Halbach 5 2 3 2 0 0 Miguel Useche 4 1 2 0 0 2 Logan Poteet 5 1 1 0 0 3 Justin Stransky 4 0 0 0 0 1 Michael Hallquist 4 2 2 1 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kevin Valdez 4 2 1 1 1 3 0 Luis Rujano 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 Brayden Spears 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Ethan Bell 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Pelicans Strand 10, Drop 6-3 Decision To Fredericksburg The Myrtle Beach Pelicans out-hit the Fredericksburg Nationals but left 10 runners on base in a 6-3 loss. Starter Emilio Ramos took the loss despite a solid outing, allowing one run over three innings with two walks and three strikeouts. Anhuar Garcia was tagged for four runs on four hits, including two home runs, over two innings, and the deficit grew to 5-0. Jordan Henriquez kept the Pelicans in it with three innings of one-run relief, striking out five, and Henry Cone struck out all three batters he faced in a perfect ninth. Myrtle Beach got on the board in the sixth. Alexey Lumpuy walked, and when Derniche Valdez lined a double to center, Lumpuy came around to score on a fielding error by the center fielder. Eli Lovich followed with an RBI double to left, cutting the deficit to 5-2. In the eighth, Valdez singled, moved up on a Lovich single, and scored on a wild pitch during Jairo Diaz's walk. Valdez finished 2-for-4 with a double and two runs scored. Lovich went 2-for-3 with a double, an RBI, a walk, and a stolen base, and Ludwing Espinoza had three hits. Ethan Conrad went 0-for-5 with two strikeouts. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 5 0 1 0 0 0 Ludwing Espinoza 5 0 3 0 0 1 Ethan Conrad 5 0 0 0 0 2 Alexey Lumpuy 4 1 1 0 1 2 Derniche Valdez 4 2 2 0 0 1 Eli Lovich 3 0 2 1 1 0 Geuri Lubo 4 0 0 0 0 3 Jairo Diaz 3 0 0 0 1 3 Derik Alcantara 4 0 1 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Emilio Ramos 3 3 1 1 2 3 0 Anhuar Garcia 2 4 4 4 2 3 2 Jordan Henriquez 3 4 1 1 1 5 0 Henry Cone 1 0 0 0 0 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-3, BB Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-3, 2 RBI, K Kevin Alcantara: DNP Ethan Conrad: 0-for-5, 2 K Kane Kepley: DNP Owen Ayers: 0-for-4, 3 K Jonathon Long: 5-for-5, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 3-for-5, 2B, 2 RBI, BB, K Brooks Caple: DNP Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 2-for-3, 2B, RBI, BB, SB Ariel Armas: 0-for-2, BB, K Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs sent RHP Phil Maton on a rehab assignment to Iowa Cubs. Bethancourt's Three-Run Homer Backs Wantz As Iowa Cubs Top St. Paul The Iowa Cubs beat the St. Paul Saints 3-1, riding one big swing and a strong night from the pitching staff. St. Paul took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on a sacrifice fly, but Iowa answered in the second. Chas McCormick and James Triantos opened the inning with back-to-back singles, and Christian Bethancourt followed with a three-run home run to left field, his ninth of the season. That was all the scoring Iowa needed. Andrew Wantz held the line and earned the win with 5 2/3 innings of one-run baseball, allowing three hits and two walks while striking out seven. Luis Peralta recorded the final out of the sixth with a strikeout, and Phil Maton looked good, striking out three over 1 2/3 hitless innings. Vince Reilly worked around a walk over the final 1 1/3 innings for his second save. Owen Miller led the offense with a 3-for-4 night, and all three of his hits were doubles. Triantos finished 2-for-4 with a run scored, and McCormick added a single, a walk, and a stolen base. Iowa outhit St. Paul 8-3 and left six runners on base. Brett Bateman entered the game as a replacement for Jonathon Long, who went 0-for-3 with a walk. Player AB R H RBI BB K Owen Miller 4 0 3 0 0 0 Jonathon Long 3 0 0 0 1 1 Brett Bateman 0 0 0 0 0 0 BJ Murray 4 0 1 0 0 1 Moisés Ballesteros 4 0 0 0 0 0 Chas McCormick 3 1 1 0 1 1 James Triantos 4 1 2 0 0 0 Christian Bethancourt 3 1 1 3 0 1 Ben Cowles 3 0 0 0 0 1 Hayden Cantrelle 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Andrew Wantz 5 2/3 3 1 1 2 7 0 Luis Peralta 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Phil Maton 1 2/3 0 0 0 0 3 0 Vince Reilly 1 1/3 0 0 0 1 0 0 Six-Run Sixth Sends Smokies Past Biloxi The Knoxville Smokies erased an early deficit and pulled away with a six-run sixth inning to beat the Biloxi Shuckers 9-6. Biloxi struck first with three runs in the second inning on a pair of run-scoring doubles off Brooks Caple, but Caple settled in from there. He finished with a quality start, allowing three runs on three hits over six innings while walking two and striking out six to earn the win. Owen Ayers got Knoxville back in it in the third with a two-run homer to right field, his 16th of the season, scoring Jefferson Rojas. The sixth inning broke the game open. Carter Trice walked, and Edgar Alvarez and Karson Simas singled to load the bases. Ethan Hearn ripped a two-run double, Alex Madera and Alex Ramírez followed with run-scoring singles, and Ayers capped the rally with a two-run single before being thrown out at second on the throw home. The six-run frame gave Knoxville an 8-3 lead. Biloxi got three back in the seventh against Tyler Schlaffer, who recorded just one out, but Marino Santy struck out three over 1 2/3 innings to stop the bleeding. Trice answered with a solo homer, his 11th, in the bottom of the seventh, finishing 2-for-2 with two walks and two runs. Luke Little worked a perfect ninth for his first save. Ayers went 2-for-5 with four RBI. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 5 1 1 1 0 0 Jefferson Rojas 4 1 1 0 1 0 Owen Ayers 5 1 2 4 0 1 Andy Garriola 4 0 0 0 0 2 Carter Trice 2 2 2 1 2 0 Edgar Alvarez 3 1 1 0 1 1 Karson Simas 3 1 1 0 1 1 Ethan Hearn 3 1 1 2 1 2 Alex Madera 4 1 2 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Brooks Caple 6 3 3 3 2 6 0 Tyler Schlaffer 1/3 3 3 3 2 1 0 Marino Santy 1 2/3 0 0 0 2 3 0 Luke Little 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Eighth-Inning Homer Sinks South Bend In Cedar Rapids The South Bend Cubs carried a one-run lead into the eighth inning, but a two-run homer handed them a 3-2 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels. Nazier Mulé started and gave South Bend four solid innings, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and two strikeouts. Cedar Rapids scored its first run in the opening frame when a run came home on a fielding error. South Bend tied the game in the third. Christian Olivo reached, and Matt Halbach doubled him home with a line drive to left. The Cubs took a 2-1 lead in the sixth when Miguel Useche reached, moved into scoring position, and came home on Olivo's sacrifice fly. Jackson Brockett was excellent in relief, tossing three scoreless innings with one hit allowed and four strikeouts. But Eli Jerzembeck could not hold the lead in the eighth. After a one-out walk, Cedar Rapids connected on a two-run homer to left center that put the Kernels ahead for good. Jerzembeck took the loss and the blown save, allowing two runs on two hits in one inning. South Bend managed just three hits, doubles by Jose Escobar and Halbach, and a single by Useche, while drawing five walks. The Cubs stranded eight runners and went quietly in the ninth. Josiah Hartshorn struck out three times, and Kane Kepley went 0-for-5 out of the leadoff spot. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 5 0 0 0 0 0 Josiah Hartshorn 4 0 0 0 0 3 Jose Escobar 3 0 1 0 1 0 Matt Halbach 4 0 1 1 0 1 Miguel Useche 3 1 1 0 1 1 Michael Carico 2 0 0 0 2 2 Logan Poteet 4 0 0 0 0 2 Michael Hallquist 2 0 0 0 1 0 Christian Olivo 2 1 0 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nazier Mulé 4 1 1 1 2 2 0 Jackson Brockett 3 1 0 0 0 4 0 Eli Jerzembeck 1 2 2 2 1 1 1 Pelicans Plate Six In First Without A Hit As Martinez-Gomez Dominates The Myrtle Beach Pelicans scored six first-inning runs without recording a hit and rode six scoreless innings from Luis Martinez-Gomez to an 11-8 win over the Fredericksburg Nationals. Fredericksburg's control problems fueled the opening rally. Alexis Hernandez walked, Alexey Lumpuy was hit by a pitch, and Eli Lovich walked to load the bases. Hernandez scored on a wild pitch during Derniche Valdez's walk, Geuri Lubo was hit by a pitch to force in Lumpuy, and walks to Jairo Diaz and Jose Silva brought home two more. A fielding error on Edward Vargas' grounder scored Lubo, and Hernandez capped the inning with a sacrifice fly. In all, the Pelicans drew five walks and took two hit-by-pitches in the frame. Valdez added a solo homer, his seventh, in the second, and Ivan Cespedes hit his first of the season in the third for an 8-0 lead. Martinez-Gomez was outstanding, allowing one hit and one walk over six scoreless innings while striking out seven for a quality start and the win. The bullpen then made it interesting. Jhon Rosario allowed a three-run homer in the seventh, and Sam Mettert gave up five runs over the final two innings, including four in the ninth. Hernandez added an RBI single in the seventh, and Diaz launched a two-run homer in the eighth, finishing with three RBI, to provide the cushion. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexis Hernandez 2 1 1 2 2 0 Alexey Lumpuy 2 1 0 0 2 2 Eli Lovich 4 1 0 0 1 2 Derniche Valdez 4 2 2 1 1 1 Geuri Lubo 3 2 0 1 1 2 Jairo Diaz 3 2 1 3 2 0 Jose Silva 3 1 0 1 2 2 Ivan Cespedes 3 1 1 1 2 0 Edward Vargas 4 0 0 1 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Luis Martinez-Gomez 6 1 0 0 1 7 0 Jhon Rosario 1 2 3 3 2 2 1 Sam Mettert 2 4 5 5 0 3 2 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, BB, R Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-4, 3 K Kevin Alcantara: DNP Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-5 Owen Ayers: 2-for-5, HR, 4 RBI, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-3, BB, K Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 2-for-4, R Brooks Caple: 6 IP, 3 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 6 K Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 0-for-4, BB, 2 K Ariel Armas: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Jake Woodford. Chicago Cubs designated RHP Bryse Wilson for assignment. Iowa Rallies To Tie, Falls On Late Walk-Off The Iowa Cubs erased a four-run deficit only to lose 7-6 to the Toledo Mud Hens. Starter Grant Kipp lasted four innings and was tagged for five runs, including three home runs, on five hits and two walks while striking out seven. Iowa's offense answered in the seventh. Down 5-1, Jonathon Long launched a two-run homer. Owen Miller tripled home a run, and James Triantos followed with an RBI single to knot the score at 5-5. Iowa took the lead in the ninth when a Moisés Ballesteros sacrifice fly scored Owen Miller for a 6-5 edge, but the bullpen could not hold it. Doug Nikhazy absorbed the loss after allowing two runs in the bottom half. Long finished 2-for-4 with the homer and two RBI, Triantos went 3-for-5, Miller added a triple among his two hits, and Brett Bateman homered and doubled. Iowa left 11 runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 4 2 2 1 1 0 Jonathon Long 4 1 2 2 1 0 BJ Murray 4 1 1 0 1 1 Owen Miller 5 2 2 1 0 0 James Triantos 5 0 3 1 0 0 Ben Cowles 4 0 2 0 0 0 Scott Kingery 4 0 0 0 0 2 Moisés Ballesteros 0 0 0 1 0 0 Eric Yang 1 0 0 0 0 0 Casey Opitz 3 0 1 0 0 1 Hayden Cantrelle 4 0 0 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Kipp 4 5 5 5 2 7 3 Collin Snider 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 Aaron Bummer 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 Liam Hendriks 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 Doug Nikhazy 1 5 2 2 1 1 0 Knoxville's Early Lead Slips Away In Seventh The Knoxville Smokies jumped ahead early but could not hold on in a 4-3 loss to the Columbus Clingstones. Starter Jace Beck turned in a strong outing over four innings, allowing one run on four hits with four walks and eight strikeouts. Knoxville struck first in the opening inning when Carter Trice laced a two-run double to plate Alex Ramírez and Jefferson Rojas for a 2-1 lead. The Smokies added a run in the third as Rojas walked, moved to third, and scored on an Andy Garriola sacrifice fly to make it 3-1. The lead disappeared in the seventh, when the bullpen surrendered three runs and Tyler Schlaffer was charged with the loss after allowing three runs over 2 2/3 innings. Tyler Santana followed with 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Trice drove in two, Rojas reached twice on walks and stole a base, and Ariel Armas singled. Knoxville left six runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alex Ramírez 4 1 1 0 0 0 Jefferson Rojas 2 2 0 0 2 1 Owen Ayers 4 0 0 0 0 1 Andy Garriola 2 0 1 1 0 1 Carter Trice 4 0 1 2 0 1 Edgar Alvarez 4 0 1 0 0 2 Karson Simas 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ariel Armas 3 0 1 0 1 1 Alex Madera 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jace Beck 4 4 1 1 4 8 0 Tyler Schlaffer 2 2/3 5 3 3 2 4 0 Tyler Santana 2 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 South Bend Powers Past Beloit Behind Kepley's Blast The South Bend Cubs collected 11 hits in a 7-3 win over the Beloit Sky Carp that was a continuation of the previous day's suspended game. Ethan Flanagan carried the pitching, working 4 2/3 innings and giving up two runs on three hits with no walks and five strikeouts to earn the win. "Opener" Jaxon Wiggins allowed a solo home run in his lone inning, and Brayden Spears closed with 3 1/3 scoreless innings for the save. South Bend broke through in the second when Kane Kepley crushed a three-run homer for a 3-1 lead. The Cubs pulled away in the eighth, scoring three times as Matt Halbach drew a bases-loaded walk to force in a run and Christian Olivo delivered a two-run single. Jose Escobar led the way at 4-for-5 with a triple and a stolen base, Angel Cepeda went 3-for-4 with a steal, Kepley drove in three, and Olivo added two RBI. South Bend stranded 17 runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 6 1 1 3 0 2 Josiah Hartshorn 6 0 1 0 0 2 Jose Escobar 5 2 4 0 1 0 Angel Cepeda 4 1 3 0 0 1 Logan Poteet 1 0 0 0 0 1 Justin Stransky 3 1 0 0 2 1 Matt Halbach 5 0 0 1 1 2 Michael Carico 2 0 0 1 3 2 Michael Hallquist 4 1 0 0 1 2 Christian Olivo 3 1 2 2 2 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jaxon Wiggins 1 2 1 1 0 0 1 Ethan Flanagan 4 2/3 3 2 2 0 5 1 Brayden Spears 3 1/3 2 0 0 0 3 0 Myrtle Beach's Lead Unravels In Bullpen Loss The Myrtle Beach Pelicans built an early lead but fell 7-4 to the Hickory Crawdads. Starter Brody McCullough was sharp across five innings, allowing one run on two hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Alexey Lumpuy tied the game in the third with a solo home run, and Myrtle Beach surged ahead in the fourth. Jose Silva ripped a two-run single, and Lumpuy followed with an RBI single to build a 4-1 cushion. The lead did not last. Henry Cone was charged with the loss and a blown save after allowing four runs, one earned, over 1 2/3 innings, and Emilio Ramos gave up two more runs across 2 1/3 innings as Hickory rallied. Lumpuy paced the offense at 4-for-5 with the homer and two RBI, Silva went 2-for-4 with two RBI, and Edward Vargas reached three times. Three Myrtle Beach errors helped the opposition, and the Pelicans left 11 runners on base. Player AB R H RBI BB K Darlyn De Leon 5 1 0 0 0 0 Alexis Hernandez 4 0 1 0 1 2 Alexey Lumpuy 5 1 4 2 0 0 Eli Lovich 4 0 1 0 1 0 Derniche Valdez 5 0 0 0 0 2 Yahil Melendez 4 1 1 0 1 3 Edward Vargas 2 1 1 0 2 0 Jairo Diaz 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jose Silva 4 0 2 2 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Brody McCullough 5 2 1 1 0 5 0 Henry Cone 1 2/3 1 4 1 4 0 0 Emilio Ramos 2 1/3 2 2 2 1 3 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-2, 2 BB, SB, K Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: 1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 0 K, 1 HR Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-6, 2 K Kevin Alcantara: DNP Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-6, HR, 3 RBI, 2 K Owen Ayers: 0-for-4, K Jonathon Long: 2-for-4, HR, 2 RBI, BB Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 3-for-5, RBI Brooks Caple: DNP Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 1-for-4, BB Ariel Armas: 1-for-3, BB, K Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: 4 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 7 K, 3 HR View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs signed free agent SS Luis Abreu to a minor league contract. RHP Jacob Wallace roster status changed by Chicago Cubs. Chicago Cubs signed free agent RHP Jacob Wallace to a minor league contract. Chicago Cubs optioned LHP Jordan Wicks to Iowa Cubs. Iowa Rallies In The Fifth To Down Toledo 6-4 Iowa erased an early deficit to beat the Toledo Mud Hens 6-4. Trailing 3-1 entering the fifth inning, the Cubs pushed across three runs to grab the lead. Owen Miller singled home BJ Murray and Moises Ballesteros to tie the game, and Ben Cowles followed with a sacrifice fly to score Miller for a 4-3 edge. Miller finished 3-for-3 with two walks and two RBIs, reaching base all five times he came to the plate. Murray went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, and Brett Bateman added a double and a triple. James Triantos delivered a sacrifice fly in the seventh to score Murray, and Jonathon Long provided insurance with a solo home run, his eighth, in the eighth inning. Long finished 2-for-5 with a double, a homer, and a run batted in. Starter Andrew Wantz labored through 3 2/3 innings, allowing three runs on three hits while walking five and striking out three. The bullpen settled things down from there. Iowa surrendered just one more run the rest of the way, and Eduarniel Nunez closed the door with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts. Iowa left 11 runners on base but did enough damage with runners in scoring position to secure the win. Owen Miller also made an impressive catch in the 8th to protect the lead for all those fans of good defense. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 5 0 2 0 0 1 Jonathon Long 5 2 2 1 0 1 Hayden Cantrelle 0 0 0 0 0 0 BJ Murray 5 2 3 0 0 0 Moisés Ballesteros 5 1 1 0 0 2 Owen Miller 3 1 3 2 2 0 Ben Cowles 3 0 1 1 1 2 James Triantos 3 0 1 1 1 1 Christian Bethancourt 5 0 0 0 0 2 Scott Kingery 3 0 0 0 1 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Andrew Wantz 3 2/3 3 3 3 5 3 0 Corbin Martin 1 1/3 4 1 1 1 1 0 Antoine Kelly 2 2 0 0 1 1 0 Eduarniel Núñez 2 1 0 0 0 3 0 Nick Dean And A Ninth-Inning Single Lift Knoxville 1-0 The Knoxville Smokies won a taut pitcher's duel 1-0 over the Columbus Clingstones on a walk-off in the bottom of the ninth. With the game scoreless entering the final frame, Alex Ramirez singled home Alex Madera to end it. Ramirez drove in the game's only run, and Jefferson Rojas contributed a double in an otherwise quiet offensive night that produced just four hits. Karson Simas added a single and a stolen base, while Carter Trice and Owen Ayers each drew a walk. The Smokies were patient but could not string much together until the decisive rally in the ninth. The story was the pitching. Nick Dean was outstanding, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing four hits with one walk and seven strikeouts, a quality start that set the tone. Erian Rodriguez followed with two scoreless innings and three strikeouts, and Evan Taylor worked a scoreless ninth with two strikeouts to earn the win. Knoxville's staff combined for 12 strikeouts and did not allow a run all afternoon. The Smokies stranded just five runners and made the lone run they scratched across stand up, capitalizing in the ninth after eight frames without a run to walk off with the victory. It was a complete effort on the mound, with all three pitchers contributing to the shutout. Player AB R H RBI BB K Carter Trice 3 0 0 0 1 1 Jefferson Rojas 4 0 1 0 0 1 Owen Ayers 3 0 0 0 1 0 Alex Ramírez 4 0 1 1 0 0 Andy Garriola 3 0 0 0 0 0 Edgar Alvarez 3 0 0 0 0 0 Karson Simas 3 0 1 0 0 2 Ethan Hearn 3 0 0 0 0 2 Drew Bowser 3 0 1 0 0 2 Alex Madera 0 1 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nick Dean 6 4 0 0 1 7 0 Erian Rodriguez 2 2 0 0 1 3 0 Evan Taylor 1 0 0 0 2 2 0 South Bend's Early Lead Slips Away In 13-5 Loss At Beloit South Bend led briefly but was overwhelmed in a 13-5 loss at the Beloit Sky Carp. Beloit jumped ahead 4-1 through two innings, but the Cubs answered with four runs in the top of the third to take a 5-4 lead. Angel Cepeda singled to start the scoring, Matt Halbach singled home another run, Miguel Useche laced a ground-rule double to plate a third, and Mike Hallquist grounded out to bring in the go-ahead run. Halbach finished 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a walk, and Jose Escobar went 2-for-5 with a stolen base. Kane Kepley, batting leadoff, singled, stole a base, and scored a run, while Josiah Hartshorn reached three times on walks. The lead did not last. Starter Nazier Mule was charged with four runs on five hits over three innings, walking three and striking out four while surrendering a home run. Beloit tied the game in the sixth, took the lead in the seventh, and broke it open with five runs in the eighth to pull away. South Bend's staff issued eight walks on the night, and the Cubs left eight runners on base. The offense went quiet after the third-inning rally, and Beloit's late outburst turned a one-run game into a lopsided final. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 5 1 1 0 0 2 Josiah Hartshorn 2 1 0 0 3 2 Jose Escobar 5 1 2 0 0 1 Angel Cepeda 4 1 1 1 1 2 Logan Poteet 4 0 0 0 0 2 Matt Halbach 3 1 2 2 1 1 Miguel Useche 4 0 1 1 0 1 Michael Hallquist 4 0 0 1 0 1 Justin Stransky 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nazier Mulé 3 5 4 4 3 4 1 Jackson Brockett 3 2/3 3 4 3 3 4 1 Ethan Bell 0 1/3 2 0 0 1 0 0 Eli Jerzembeck 1 5 5 5 1 1 0 Late Rally And Melendez's Relief Carry Myrtle Beach 5-2 The Myrtle Beach Pelicans rallied late to defeat the Hickory Crawdads 5-2. Myrtle Beach scored first in the second inning when Jose Silva drew a bases-loaded walk to bring home Eli Lovich. After Hickory took a 2-1 lead in the fourth, the Pelicans surged ahead in the sixth. Derniche Valdez tripled to score Lovich and tie the game, then Yahil Melendez singled to put Myrtle Beach on top 3-2. Lovich led the offense, going 3-for-3 with a double, a walk, a stolen base, and two runs scored. Valdez added two hits, including the triple, and Melendez reached base four times with a single and three walks. The Pelicans tacked on two more in the eighth on sacrifice flies from Geuri Lubo and Darlyn De Leon. Starter Pierce Coppola turned in a solid four innings, allowing two runs on four hits with two walks and six strikeouts. The bullpen was dominant behind him. Edwardo Melendez was terrific, tossing three and two-thirds hitless, scoreless innings with four strikeouts, and Jordan Henriquez finished with a scoreless 1 1/3. Myrtle Beach drew nine walks on the night and left nine runners on base, but timely hitting and shutdown relief carried the Pelicans to the win. Player AB R H RBI BB K Darlyn De Leon 4 0 0 1 0 1 Alexis Hernandez 4 0 0 0 1 2 Alexey Lumpuy 4 0 0 0 0 1 Eli Lovich 3 2 3 0 1 0 Derniche Valdez 4 1 2 1 0 0 Yahil Melendez 1 1 1 0 3 0 Jose Silva 1 1 0 1 3 1 Ivan Cespedes 3 0 0 0 1 2 Geuri Lubo 3 0 1 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Pierce Coppola 4 4 2 2 2 6 0 Edwardo Melendez 3 2/3 0 0 0 2 4 0 Jordan Henriquez 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 1-for-4, 2B, K Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Josiah Hartshorn: 0-for-2, 3 BB, 2 K Kevin Alcantara: DNP Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-5, 2 K Owen Ayers: 0-for-3, BB Jonathon Long: 2-for-5, 2B, HR, RBI, K Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 1-for-3, RBI, BB, K Brooks Caple: DNP Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 3-for-3, 2B, BB Ariel Armas: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: DNP View full article

Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs activated RHP Bryse Wilson. Chicago Cubs placed LHP Hoby Milner on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 26, 2026. Appendicitis. Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Jayden Murray to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Tyler Ferguson from Iowa Cubs. Iowa Cubs Tie It Late, Then Buffalo Erupts For Six In The 11th The Iowa Cubs clawed back to a 3-3 tie but the Buffalo Bisons unloaded for six runs in the 11th inning to claim a 9-3 decision. Starter Grant Kipp struck out seven over three and two-thirds innings, allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks, with two home runs accounting for the early damage. Iowa's middle relief steadied things, as Zac Leigh and Luis Peralta combined for four and one-third scoreless innings to keep the game within reach. Chas McCormick carried the offense, going 3-for-4 with a double and a home run while scoring twice and driving in a run. Christian Bethancourt added two hits and an RBI, and Brett Bateman reached three times on two hits and two walks. Moisés Ballesteros knocked in a run with a sacrifice fly that tied the game in the sixth. The bullpen unraveled in the 11th, when Vince Reilly and Collin Snider combined to allow six runs, the zombie runner coming around to score before a three-run home run blew the game open. Iowa left 11 runners on base, repeatedly working into scoring position without delivering the decisive hit. The loss spoiled a steady night from the top of the order and a competitive effort across the first ten innings. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 3 0 2 0 2 0 BJ Murray 5 1 1 0 0 0 Scott Kingery 0 0 0 0 0 0 Moisés Ballesteros 2 0 0 1 2 0 Kevin Alcántara 5 0 1 0 0 1 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 1 1 Owen Miller 4 0 0 0 1 1 Chas McCormick 4 2 3 1 0 0 James Triantos 1 0 1 0 0 0 Christian Bethancourt 5 0 2 1 0 1 Ben Cowles 5 0 0 0 0 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Grant Kipp 3 2/3 7 3 3 2 7 2 Zac Leigh 2 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Luis Peralta 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 Vince Reilly 2 2 4 3 3 1 0 Collin Snider 1 4 2 2 0 0 1 Knoxville Smokies Storm Back With A Seven-Run Eighth At Birmingham The Knoxville Smokies trailed 3-0 entering the eighth inning, then sent the lineup around for seven runs to seize a 7-3 win over the Birmingham Barons. The rally began with an unearned run, and leadoff man Hayden Cantrelle tied the game with a two-run single before Knoxville pulled ahead for good. Cantrelle finished 2-for-5 with two RBI, Carter Trice added a sacrifice fly and reached three times, and Andy Garriola delivered a two-run single. Edgar Alvarez capped the scoring with an RBI double, one of his two hits on the night. Starter Evan Taylor set the tone with four strikeouts over two innings, allowing one run on three hits and a walk. Yenrri Rojas followed with two and two-thirds scoreless innings, working around two walks to hold the deficit at three. Tyler Schlaffer closed the door with two and one-third innings, striking out three and allowing one hit while protecting the lead. The Smokies needed only three hits across the first seven innings but bunched their offense when it counted, stranding just three runners on the night. Devin Ortiz and Ariel Armas each reached and came around to score during the eighth-inning outburst, and Jefferson Rojas worked a walk to help keep the line moving. The comeback turned a quiet evening into a decisive road victory, with the bullpen surrendering nothing after the seventh. Player AB R H RBI BB K Hayden Cantrelle 5 1 2 2 0 0 Jefferson Rojas 3 1 0 0 1 1 Carter Trice 1 0 1 1 1 0 Alex Ramírez 4 0 0 0 0 2 Andy Garriola 4 1 1 2 0 2 Edgar Alvarez 4 1 2 1 0 1 Ariel Armas 4 1 1 0 0 1 Ethan Hearn 4 1 0 0 0 0 Devin Ortiz 4 1 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Evan Taylor 2 3 1 1 1 4 0 Yenrri Rojas 2 2/3 0 0 0 2 0 0 Tyler Ras 2 4 2 2 1 1 0 Tyler Schlaffer 2 1/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 South Bend Cubs Roll Past Quad Cities Behind Wiggins And Two Homers The South Bend Cubs pounded out an 11-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits, building the lead early and never looking back. Jaxon Wiggins set the tone with three and two-thirds scoreless innings, striking out four while allowing just two hits and no walks. Ethan Flanagan finished with four innings of one-run ball and four strikeouts to close it out. The offense did its work in bunches, opening with three runs in the third and adding four more in the fifth, when Jose Escobar and Drew Bowser each homered. Escobar led the way at 3-for-4 with three RBI, while Bowser went 2-for-4 with two RBI. Angel Cepeda reached base four times, finishing 2-for-3 with a double, two walks, two RBI, and three runs scored. Leadoff man Kane Kepley tripled, drove in a run, and crossed the plate twice. South Bend tacked on single runs in the fourth and sixth before a two-run seventh pushed the margin to double digits. The Cubs drew eight walks and pressured the Quad Cities staff all night, leaving 10 on base only because they kept the line moving. With Wiggins dominant and the lineup productive top to bottom, South Bend controlled the game from the third inning on. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 4 2 1 1 1 1 Josiah Hartshorn 5 0 1 1 0 1 Matt Halbach 5 0 0 0 0 3 Angel Cepeda 3 3 2 2 2 1 Jose Escobar 4 1 3 3 1 0 Justin Stransky 4 1 1 0 1 0 Miguel Useche 3 1 0 1 1 2 Drew Bowser 4 1 2 2 1 1 Christian Olivo 4 2 1 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jaxon Wiggins 3 2/3 2 0 0 0 4 0 Adam Stone 1 1/3 1 0 0 0 1 0 Ethan Flanagan 4 4 1 1 0 4 0 Myrtle Beach Pelicans Cough Up The Lead In Salem's Five-Run Seventh The Myrtle Beach Pelicans carried a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the seventh inning, then watched Salem score five times to take an 8-5 decision. Starter Braylon Myers turned in three scoreless innings, allowing two hits with a strikeout, but the bullpen could not hold the advantage. Henry Cone absorbed the damage in the seventh, charged with five runs, two earned, over one and two-thirds innings, as defensive miscues extended the inning. Derniche Valdez paced the offense at 3-for-5 with a double and two runs scored, and Edward Vargas went 2-for-5 with a triple, an RBI, and two runs, his seventh-inning three-bagger briefly pushing the lead to 5-3 with a seldom seen inside the park home run. Ezequiel Pena chipped in two hits and an RBI. The Pelicans' biggest problem was efficiency, as they stranded 15 runners and repeatedly let scoring chances slip away. Myrtle Beach pieced together runs in the fourth, sixth, and seventh but could not add the cushion their baserunners suggested was available. Yoendris Gonzalez struck out five in two innings but surrendered three runs, and Sam Mettert provided a clean one and one-third to finish. A promising road night unraveled in a single frame, leaving the Pelicans to rue a stack of missed opportunities in an 8-5 loss. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 5 0 1 1 1 3 Alexis Hernandez 4 0 0 1 2 3 Michael Carico 3 0 0 0 2 2 Logan Poteet 5 0 0 0 0 5 Eli Lovich 5 0 1 0 0 1 Derniche Valdez 5 2 3 0 0 1 Edward Vargas 5 2 2 1 0 0 Ezequiel Pena 4 1 2 1 1 1 Yahil Melendez 0 0 0 0 0 0 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 1 0 1 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Braylon Myers 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 Yoendris Gonzalez 2 3 3 3 2 5 0 Henry Cone 1 2/3 4 5 2 2 3 0 Sam Mettert 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-3, 1 BB, 1 K Pedro Ramirez: DNP Jaxon Wiggins: 3 2/3 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 4 K Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-5, 1 RBI, 1 K Kevin Alcantara: 1-for-5, 1 K Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-4, 3B, 1 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K Owen Ayers: DNP Jonathon Long: 0-for-4, 1 BB, 1 K Kaleb Wing: DNP James Triantos: 1-for-1 Brooks Caple: DNP Mason McGwire: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Eli Lovich: 1-for-5, 1 K Ariel Armas: 1-for-4, 1 K Jostin Florentino: DNP Grant Kipp: 3 2/3 IP, 7 H, 3 R, 2 BB, 7 K, 2 HR View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs activated LHP Matthew Boyd from the 15-day injured list. Chicago Cubs designated RHP Yosver Zulueta for assignment. Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Gavin Hollowell to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs optioned RHP Tyler Ferguson to Iowa Cubs. New York Mets traded LHP David Peterson to Chicago Cubs for 3B Cole Mathis. Pitching Collapse Sinks Iowa Against Buffalo Starter Corbin Martin lasted one and two-thirds innings, allowing two runs on one hit with one walk and two strikeouts to take the loss and fall to 0-2. The game unraveled from there. Doug Nikhazy followed with two and two-thirds innings, surrendering four runs on three hits while walking five and striking out four. The fifth inning was the back-breaker, as the Buffalo Bisons plated eight runs. Tyler Beede recorded just two outs in the frame and gave up six runs on five hits, including two home runs, as the deficit ballooned. Iowa's offense managed only six hits and stranded eight runners. James Triantos led the way, going 2-for-4 with the club's lone RBI, a ninth-inning single that scored Kevin Alcántara for the only Iowa run. Moisés Ballesteros, BJ Murray, Scott Kingery, and Ben Cowles each added a hit, and Alcántara reached on a walk and scored. Antoine Kelly offered two scoreless innings of relief and Eric Yang added a scoreless frame, but the damage was long done. Catcher Casey Opitz finished the game on the mound and allowed three runs in the ninth. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 4 0 0 0 0 1 Moisés Ballesteros 3 0 1 0 1 0 BJ Murray 4 0 1 0 0 1 Jonathon Long 4 0 0 0 0 2 Kevin Alcántara 3 1 0 0 1 2 Chas McCormick 2 0 0 0 1 1 Casey Opitz 1 0 0 0 0 0 James Triantos 4 0 2 1 0 1 Scott Kingery 4 0 1 0 0 0 Ben Cowles 4 0 1 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Corbin Martin 1 2/3 1 2 2 1 2 0 Doug Nikhazy 2 2/3 3 4 4 5 4 1 Tyler Beede 0 2/3 5 6 6 1 1 2 Antoine Kelly 2 1 0 0 0 2 0 Eric Yang 1 1 0 0 2 0 0 Casey Opitz 1 3 3 3 3 0 0 Netz Spins Six Scoreless As Smokies Handle Birmingham Dawson Netz turned in a quality start, working six scoreless innings on two hits with one walk and two strikeouts to earn the win and improve to 5-1. The Smokies gave him an early cushion. Owen Ayers opened the scoring with a leadoff home run, his 14th, in the first inning, and Hayden Cantrelle doubled home Ariel Armas in the second to make it 2-0. Knoxville broke it open in the seventh when Ed Howard launched a two-run homer, his first of the year, scoring Cantrelle. Birmingham answered with a run in the eighth, but the Smokies tacked on an insurance run in the ninth when Karson Simas grounded out to bring home Cantrelle. Cantrelle was the offensive standout, going 3-for-4 with two doubles, an RBI, and two runs scored. Ayers added a 2-for-3 day with a walk, and Howard drove in two. The bullpen finished the job behind Netz. Marino Santy fired one and two-thirds scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Luke Little closed it with a scoreless ninth and two strikeouts. Tyler Ras allowed the only Birmingham run. Knoxville stranded six. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas 4 0 0 1 0 2 Jefferson Rojas 5 0 0 0 0 0 Owen Ayers 3 1 2 1 1 1 Alex Ramírez 4 0 0 0 0 1 Andy Garriola 4 0 0 0 0 1 Carter Trice 4 0 0 0 0 3 Ariel Armas 4 1 1 0 0 1 Hayden Cantrelle 4 2 3 1 0 0 Ed Howard 4 1 1 2 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Dawson Netz 6 2 0 0 1 2 0 Marino Santy 1 2/3 1 0 0 1 3 0 Tyler Ras 0 1/3 1 1 1 0 0 1 Luke Little 1 1 0 0 0 2 0 Bats Go Quiet As South Bend Falls To Quad Cities Mason McGwire took the loss in a four-inning start, allowing four runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts to fall to 1-1. The Quad Cities River Bandits did most of their damage early, scoring three times in the second inning and adding a run in the third to build a 4-0 lead. South Bend's offense never found a rhythm, managing just four hits and stranding only four runners. The Cubs scratched across their lone run in the fifth, when Jose Escobar doubled home Matt Halbach. Halbach had doubled and scored, while Kane Kepley and Josiah Hartshorn each singled, and Angel Cepeda drew a walk. The bullpen had mixed results. JP Wheat was excellent, striking out three in a perfect inning, and Grayson Moore recorded the final out with a strikeout. Nate Williams allowed a run over two innings. Luis Rujano struggled, giving up three runs on two hits and four walks while recording five outs, as Quad Cities pulled away with three runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach. All in all there were still some good defensive plays through out the night. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 3 0 1 0 0 1 Angel Cepeda 3 0 0 0 1 2 Josiah Hartshorn 4 0 1 0 0 0 Matt Halbach 4 1 1 0 0 1 Jose Escobar 4 0 1 1 0 1 Miguel Useche 3 0 0 0 0 1 Alex Madera 3 0 0 0 0 1 Drew Bowser 3 0 0 0 0 2 Christian Olivo 3 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Mason McGwire 4 7 4 4 2 4 0 JP Wheat 1 0 0 0 1 3 0 Nate Williams 2 2 1 1 1 2 0 Luis Rujano 1 2/3 2 3 3 4 1 0 Grayson Moore 0 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Hernandez Delivers In Ninth As Pelicans Edge Salem The Pelicans rallied for a one-run win, and Alexis Hernandez was the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with two doubles and two RBI, including the go-ahead double in the ninth that scored Alexey Lumpuy for the decisive run. Myrtle Beach and Salem traded blows all afternoon. Jairo Diaz tied the game at two with an RBI single in the fourth, and the Pelicans took the lead in the fifth on a Logan Poteet groundout that scored Lumpuy and a Michael Carico single that scored Hernandez for a 4-3 edge. Salem answered with a tying run in the bottom of the fifth, and the score held until Hernandez broke it open in the ninth. Starter Kaleb Wing opened with a scoreless first, allowing no hits with a walk and two strikeouts. David Bracho followed with three innings and gave up three runs. Edwardo Melendez blew a save, allowing one run over three innings while striking out three, before Emilio Ramos slammed the door with two scoreless innings and two strikeouts to pick up the win and move to 1-0. Diaz finished 2-for-4 with an RBI, and Lumpuy scored twice. Myrtle Beach stranded eight. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 4 2 1 0 0 1 Alexis Hernandez 5 1 3 2 0 0 Eli Lovich 3 0 0 0 0 2 Logan Poteet 4 0 0 1 1 2 Michael Carico 3 1 1 1 1 1 Yahil Melendez 3 0 0 0 0 0 Derniche Valdez 3 0 0 0 1 2 Jairo Diaz 4 1 2 1 0 1 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 1 0 0 2 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Kaleb Wing 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 David Bracho 3 7 3 3 2 2 0 Edwardo Melendez 3 2 1 1 2 3 0 Emilio Ramos 2 0 0 0 1 2 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 0-for-5 Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcantara: 0-for-3, 2 K Josiah Hartshorn: 1-for-4 Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 1-for-3, K Jonathon Long: 0-for-4, 2 K James Triantos: 2-for-4, K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 2-for-3, HR, K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: 1 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 2 K Angel Cepeda: 0-for-3, 2 K Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: DNP Ty Southisene: DNP Will Sanders: DNP Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article

Chicago Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs designated RHP Eduarniel Núñez for assignment. Chicago Cubs placed RHP Edward Cabrera on the 15-day injured list. Left hamstring strain. Chicago Cubs placed RHP Ben Brown on the 15-day injured list retroactive to June 21, 2026. Neck strain. Chicago Cubs designated RHP Christian Roa for assignment. Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Gavin Hollowell from Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs sent LHP Luis Peralta outright to Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs selected the contract of RHP Vince Velasquez from Iowa Cubs. Chicago Cubs claimed RHP Bryse Wilson off waivers from Philadelphia Phillies. Chicago Cubs recalled RHP Tyler Ferguson from Iowa Cubs. Iowa Plates 11 In The Fifth To Bury Buffalo The Iowa Cubs piled up 19 hits and 18 runs in a rout of the Buffalo Bisons. Kevin Alcántara led the way, going 4-for-5 with a grand slam, a double, and four runs batted in. Owen Miller added a home run, a double, and three RBI, James Triantos homered and drove in three, and Brett Bateman reached base four times with three runs scored. The decisive frame was the fifth, when Iowa sent a parade of hitters to the plate and scored 11 times. Owen Miller doubled home a run, Bateman singled in another, and back-to-back bases-loaded walks to Moisés Ballesteros and Jonathon Long pushed across two more. Alcántara then cleared the bases with his grand slam, and Triantos followed with a two-run homer to cap the outburst. Will Sanders started and worked five innings, allowing four hits and three runs, all earned, with three walks and four strikeouts. The bullpen had a rougher time, as Vince Reilly and Kenten Egbert combined to allow eight runs over the final three and a third innings, but the early cushion was more than enough. Player AB R H RBI BB K Brett Bateman 5 3 3 2 1 2 BJ Murray 4 2 3 0 1 1 Moisés Ballesteros 5 1 1 2 1 1 Jonathon Long 3 2 1 1 2 0 Kevin Alcántara 5 3 4 4 0 0 Owen Miller 4 2 3 3 1 0 James Triantos 4 2 3 3 0 1 Christian Bethancourt 3 1 0 0 2 0 Ben Cowles 4 2 1 1 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Will Sanders 5 4 3 3 3 4 1 Vince Reilly 1 2/3 3 4 4 3 0 2 Kenten Egbert 2 1/3 5 4 2 2 1 1 Rojas Homers Twice And Drives In Five To Pace Knoxville The Knoxville Smokies jumped on the Birmingham Barons early and held on for a 10-4 win. Jefferson Rojas was the catalyst, going 3-for-5 with two home runs and five runs batted in. Alex Ramírez chipped in three hits, and Andy Garriola added a home run and three RBI. Knoxville built its lead across the first three innings. Rojas opened the scoring with a solo homer in the first, and Ramírez doubled home another run that frame. In the second, Rojas struck again with a three-run blast that scored Hayden Cantrelle and Karson Simas, and Garriola's two-run homer in the third pushed the margin to 7-1. Nick Dean turned in the standout pitching performance, working five innings and allowing three hits and one run, with one walk and five strikeouts. Evan Taylor followed with two scoreless innings and four strikeouts to help close it out. Knoxville left 10 runners on base but did enough damage early to never trail. Player AB R H RBI BB K Karson Simas 5 1 0 0 1 2 Jefferson Rojas 5 2 3 5 1 1 Owen Ayers 4 2 2 0 1 1 Alex Ramírez 5 2 3 1 0 0 Andy Garriola 5 1 2 3 0 0 Edgar Alvarez 4 0 0 0 1 0 Carter Trice 4 0 2 0 1 0 Ariel Armas 4 0 0 0 1 2 Hayden Cantrelle 3 2 1 0 2 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Nick Dean 5 3 1 1 1 5 0 Yenrri Rojas 1 1 2 2 3 1 0 Evan Taylor 2 2 0 0 1 4 0 Kenyi Perez 1 2 1 1 1 2 0 Florentino And Hartshorn Lead South Bend Past Quad Cities The South Bend Cubs got a dominant start from Jostin Florentino and a big day from Josiah Hartshorn in an 8-1 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits. Hartshorn went 3-for-5 with a home run and three runs batted in, Ty Southisene added two hits and two runs scored, and leadoff man Kane Kepley reached base four times and scored three runs. South Bend struck immediately in the first, scoring three times. Hartshorn singled home Kepley, Matt Halbach reached on an error that brought in Southisene, and Jose Escobar's sacrifice fly scored Hartshorn. The lead held until the seventh, when Southisene and Escobar delivered run-scoring singles to extend the margin, and Hartshorn capped the night with a two-run homer in the eighth. Florentino set the tone on the mound, throwing four scoreless innings with one hit, two walks, and seven strikeouts. Brayden Spears followed with three and two-thirds innings, allowing one run while striking out six, and Ethan Bell recorded the final out. Player AB R H RBI BB K Kane Kepley 2 3 0 0 2 0 Ty Southisene 4 2 2 1 1 0 Josiah Hartshorn 5 2 3 3 0 0 Matt Halbach 5 0 1 1 0 1 Angel Cepeda 4 0 2 0 1 1 Jose Escobar 3 0 1 2 1 1 Justin Stransky 3 0 0 0 1 0 Alex Madera 4 0 1 0 0 2 Christian Olivo 3 1 0 0 1 0 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Jostin Florentino 4 1 0 0 2 7 0 Brayden Spears 3 2/3 3 1 1 0 6 0 Ethan Bell 1/3 0 0 0 0 1 0 Pelicans Rally Falls Short In One-Run Loss At Salem The Myrtle Beach Pelicans could not overcome an early deficit and dropped a 5-4 decision to the Salem Red Sox. Geuri Lubo led the offense, going 3-for-4, and Eli Lovich drove in two runs with a triple. The Pelicans dug themselves a hole behind starter Hayden Frank, who allowed six hits and five runs, all earned, with two home runs over three innings while striking out two. Myrtle Beach answered in the third, when Lovich tripled home Lubo and Alexis Hernandez to cut into the lead. Derniche Valdez doubled in a run in the sixth, and a sacrifice fly from Hernandez in the seventh brought the Pelicans within one. The bullpen kept them in it, as Jordan Henriquez and Sam Mettert combined for five scoreless innings out of relief, but the offense stranded six runners and could not push across the tying run. Player AB R H RBI BB K Alexey Lumpuy 3 0 0 0 1 2 Alexis Hernandez 3 1 0 0 1 1 Eli Lovich 4 0 1 2 0 1 Logan Poteet 4 1 1 0 0 1 Michael Carico 4 0 1 0 0 2 Derniche Valdez 4 0 1 1 0 3 Yahil Melendez 4 0 1 0 0 2 Edward Vargas 0 0 0 0 0 0 Geuri Lubo 4 2 3 0 0 0 Darlyn De Leon 4 0 0 0 0 1 Player IP H R ER BB K HR Hayden Frank 3 6 5 5 1 2 2 Jordan Henriquez 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 Sam Mettert 2 0 0 0 1 1 0 Top-20 Prospect Performance Jefferson Rojas: 3-for-5, 2 HR, 5 RBI, 1 BB, 1 K Jaxon Wiggins: DNP Pedro Ramirez: DNP Kevin Alcántara: 4-for-5, 2B, HR, 4 RBI Josiah Hartshorn: 3-for-5, HR, 3 RBI Ethan Conrad: DNP Kane Kepley: 0-for-2, 3 R, 2 BB Jonathon Long: 1-for-3, 2B, RBI, 2 BB James Triantos: 3-for-4, HR, 3 RBI, 1 K Cole Mathis: DNP Owen Ayers: 2-for-4, 2 R, 1 BB, 1 K Brooks Caple: DNP Juan Cabada: DNP Kaleb Wing: DNP Angel Cepeda: 2-for-4, 1 BB, 1 K Dominick Reid: DNP Jostin Florentino: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 7 K Ty Southisene: 2-for-4, 2 R, RBI, 1 BB Will Sanders: 5 IP, 4 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 3 BB, 4 K, 1 HR Brandon Birdsell: DNP View full article