Travis Klosinski

Chicago Cubs Affiliate Overview (April 10th - April 12th) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 8-6 Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers Series Standing: 2-3 Double-A Knoxville Smokies Season Record: 5-4 Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas Series Standing: 4-2 High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 4-2 Series Opponent: Peoria Chiefs Series Standing: 4-2 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 5-4 Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies Series Standing: 2-4 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 8-6 Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers Series Standing: 2-3 April 10 (Game 1): Iowa opened with early execution as Justin Dean singled, stole second, and scored on a BJ Murray RBI single. Kevin Alcántara added a double, but the offense stalled. Omaha broke through with a four-run third inning, stringing together extra-base hits and singles to take control. Iowa’s pitching could not recover from the surge, and the offense was held scoreless the rest of the way in a 6-1 loss. April 10 (Game 2): Iowa fell behind early as Omaha capitalized on walks and timely hits to build a 3-0 lead. Christian Bethancourt’s two-run home run in the fifth ignited the offense, and Iowa tied the game in the sixth behind doubles from Jonathon Long and Pedro Ramírez. The bullpen held through extra innings, but Omaha broke through in the ninth with a two-run single, handing Iowa a 6-4 loss. April 11: Iowa responded with a 7-3 win, rallying after an early deficit. James Triantos drove in a run, and Justin Dean added a two-run single before Ben Cowles delivered a two-run double in a decisive sixth inning. Jonathon Long extended the lead with a run-scoring double. Iowa’s pitching stabilized after early pressure and limited Omaha to three runs, closing out the game effectively. April 12: Game canceled. Double-A Knoxville Smokies Season Record: 5-4 Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas Series Standing: 4-2 April 10: Knoxville fell behind early as Rocket City scored across the first four innings. The Smokies responded in the fifth with Carter Trice’s double, RBI singles from Alex Madera and Jefferson Rojas, and a two-run double from Alex Ramírez. Knoxville trimmed the deficit to one, but Rocket City added three runs in the eighth. A bases-loaded chance in the ninth produced only one run in a 9-6 loss. April 11: Both teams were scoreless through five innings before Knoxville broke through in the sixth. Rocket City responded in the eighth, but Devin Ortiz homered to cut the deficit. In the ninth, Karson Simas tied the game with an RBI hit, and Ortiz delivered a sacrifice fly to complete the comeback. Knoxville’s pitching held early and limited late damage in a 4-3 win. April 12: Knoxville took a 1-0 lead on Devin Ortiz’s home run but fell behind in the eighth. The Smokies tied the game in the ninth on a Haydn McGeary double after a bases-loaded walk cut the deficit. In the 10th, Rocket City used the extra-inning runner to score three runs on a bunt, single, and double. Knoxville added a run but fell 7-4. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: 4-2 Series Opponent: Peoria Chiefs Series Standing: 4-2 April 10: South Bend took control early as Reginald Preciado drove in two runs with a double. Kade Snell and Owen Ayers added middle-inning production, and Angel Cepeda extended the lead with a three-run double. Peoria mounted a late rally, loading the bases in the ninth, but South Bend’s pitching held to secure an 8-6 win. April 11: Trailing early, South Bend erupted for seven runs in the seventh inning. Cameron Sisneros opened the rally with a home run, and Leonel Espinoza followed with a three-run shot. Drew Bowser added a two-run single, and Matt Halbach homered late. South Bend’s pitching limited Peoria after the early innings in a 9-3 win. April 12: South Bend led early before Peoria scored four runs in the fifth. In the ninth, Leonel Espinoza doubled and Owen Ayers delivered a two-run home run to reclaim the lead. The bullpen closed the final inning, preserving a 5-4 win and completing the series sweep of the weekend games. Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 5-4 Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies Series Standing: 2-4 April 10: Myrtle Beach struck first as Ty Southisene set the table with aggressive baserunning and Alexey Lumpuy drove in two runs with a single. Columbia answered quickly and added runs in the middle innings. Despite multiple stolen bases and baserunners, Myrtle Beach could not capitalize further and was held scoreless after the third in a 6-2 loss. April 11: The Pelicans traded runs early and reclaimed the lead in the seventh after Ludwing Espinoza tripled and scored. Jairo Diaz extended the lead with a three-run home run in the eighth, but Columbia responded with a late rally, tying and taking the lead on a double and sacrifice fly. Myrtle Beach was retired in order in the ninth in a 10-8 loss April 12: Columbia built an early lead with a first-inning grand slam and added runs in the fourth. Myrtle Beach responded with a solo home run from Cole Mathis but struggled to generate sustained offense. Late runs from Eli Lovich and Derik Alcantara narrowed the gap, but the early deficit proved decisive in an 8-3 loss. Cubs Transactions Chicago Cubs placed RHP Hunter Harvey on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to April 9, 2026, with right triceps inflammation. Chicago Cubs selected the contract of LHP Charlie Barnes from Iowa Cubs. View full article

Cubs Affiliate Overview (April 3rd - April 5th) Triple-A Iowa Cubs Series at St. Paul Saints (Minnesota Twins): Win 5-1 Season Record: 5-3 Double-A Tennessee Smokies Series vs. Birmingham Barons (White Sox): 2-1 Season Record: 2-1 High-A South Bend Cubs Series vs. Quad Cities River Bandits: 0-1 Season Record: 0-1 Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Series vs. Charleston River Dogs: Win 3-0 Season Record: 3-0 Triple-A Iowa Cubs Season Record: 6-3 Series Opponent: Louisville Bats Series Standing: 5-1 April 3: The Iowa Cubs are back with a vengeance with their first series of the season against the Louisville Bats. Friday’s game was a dominant outing for the Iowa Cubs, overtaking the Bats 7-2. Will Sanders his first quality start of the season on the mound with 7 strikeouts and 2 home runs. The 2nd inning was the busiest for the Cub’s bats. Chas McCormick sent a rocket over the left center field wall on a 1-2 count to tie the game. Justin Dean singled with a line drive to center, scoring Christian Bethancourt and advancing Brett Bateman into scoring position. With two outs James Triantos extended the lead with a home run of his own, giving Iowa a 4 run lead against the Bats. Chas McCormick doubled on a lined drive to left field scoring Pedro Ramirez. Notably in the 9th, Jonathan Long tripled on a sharp hit fly ball to center field where he was able to score on a wild pitch, giving Iowa their 7th run of the night. April 4: It was an early and high scoring battle with Iowa’s game being cut short after the start of the 6th inning due to weather giving the I-Cubs their 4th straight win. Iowa set a strong lead in the first 3 innings running up the score to to 8 runs leading by 2. Justin Wiggins took to the mound pitching 4 innings. With increased focus following Cade Horton’s early removal from Chicago’s game against the Guardians on 4/03. Wiggins had a difficult start finding his rhythm, walking 2 batters, giving up 2 runs in the 2nd and a homerun in the 3rd striking out 4; Wiggins ERA sits at 5.63. Luke Little closed the game earning his 2nd win of the season. BJ Murray, Pedro Ramirez and Kevin Alcántara each logged their third home run of the season by the 3rd inning giving Alcántara his 7th RBI of the season and 3rd long ball in 6 games. April 5: The Iowa Cubs struck early and built a steady lead on the way to a 6–2 win over Louisville at Louisville Slugger Field. James Triantos set the tone in the first, singling, stealing second, and advancing to third on an error before scoring on Jonathon Long’s RBI single for a 1–0 lead. Kevin Alcántara added to the advantage in the third, launching a solo home run to left field. After Louisville answered with a run in the bottom half, Iowa responded with a decisive fourth inning. BJ Murray opened the fourth with a walk and stolen base, and later scored on Christian Bethancourt’s single. Triantos followed with a two-run double to left, bringing home Ben Cowles and Bethancourt to extend the lead to 5–1. Chas McCormick added insurance in the fifth with a solo home run to left center to mark his third straight games of homers. Triantos finished 2-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and a run scored, while Long added two hits and an RBI. Murray reached base twice, scored two runs, and tripled in the eighth. Bethancourt collected two hits and drove in a run. Starter Vince Velasquez worked five innings, allowing one run with two walks and six strikeouts and was named Player of The Game. Tyler Santana followed with three innings, allowing one run with one walk and three strikeouts. Gavin Hollowell handled the ninth, allowing one run and striking out one. Louisville scored once in the ninth, but Iowa maintained control to secure the win. Double-A: Knoxville Smokies Season Record: 1-1 Series Opponent: Birmingham Barons (White Sox) Series Standing: 1-1 April 3: The Knoxville Smokies started their season off with a bang wining their opener with a 9-6 victory. Jefferson Rojas for his first at bat launched a 3 run homer in the 1st inning. Rojas looked much more comfortable in the box compared to his last season appearance indicating strong offseason development. Seiya Suzuki made his first appearance on a rehab assignment going 1-2 with a sac fly and scoring a run. Suzuki looked comfortable in warm ups and batting practice prior to the game with solid plate appearances until being sat after the 5th inning. A.D. Ramírez contributed multiple hits with 2 RBIs and 2 stolen bases. Jordan Nwogu and Ariel Armas also contributed multi-hit games. The Smokies bullpen preserved the lead with Zane Mills starting pitching going into the 4th. Knoxville played well defensively with a key double play from Rojas to Edgar Alvarez to halt any rally from the Barons. Jefferson Rojas made a stellar diving play to end the 6th inning. Starter Zane Mills worked on the mound for 3 innings before the bullpen came in. Tyler Beck earned the win by holding the game with 2 hits and 3 runs with relievers Andrew Schultz and Edwin Taylor both contributing 2 scoreless innings to hold the lead and secure the win. April 4: The Smokie lost 6-2 on Saturday. An inability for the offense to get traction set the Smokies back while pitching from Knoxville took longer than desired to find a rhythm. Jefferson Rojas went 1-4 and scoring a run his only hit being a double on an outside pitch with a 2-2 count. Edgar Alvarez hit a single and earned an RBI to score Rojas and Karson Simas got on base and scored a run to give Knoxville their only runs of the game. Seiya Suzuki went 1-4 in DH with a notable punch out looking that had everyone in knoxville wishing for ABS. Starting pitching for the Smokies was Luis Martinez-Gomez who had a shaky start to his season. The first inning proved difficult for Martinez-Gomez to find the strike zone while also giving up a 2 run home run earning him the loss for this game. April 5: The Knoxville Smokies fell 10–5 to Birmingham after a decisive early stretch at Covenant Health Park. Birmingham struck quickly in the second inning, stringing together four singles to take a 4–0 lead. The visitors added to it in the third, highlighted by a two-run double from Wilfred Veras and another two-run double from Calvin Harris. Caden Connor capped the inning with a three-run double, extending the deficit to 10–0. Knoxville broke through in the fourth. Seiya Suzuki singled and later scored on a sacrifice fly from Jordan Nwogu to make it 10–1. The Smokies added more in the fifth when Karson Simas connected on a two-run home run, bringing home Andy Garriola and trimming the margin to seven. Knoxville continued to chip away late. In the eighth, Jefferson Rojas singled and scored on Ariel Armas’ double. Garriola followed with an RBI single, scoring Armas to cut the deficit to 10–5. Suzuki reached base twice and scored a run, while Garriola collected two hits and scored once. Simas drove in two runs with his home run, and Armas added a double and RBI. Starter Yenrri Rojas worked 2 2/3 innings, allowing seven runs with two walks and two strikeouts. Grant Kipp followed with 1 1/3 innings, allowing three runs with two walks and no strikeouts. Jake Bockenstedt added two innings of relief, striking out one without allowing a run. Despite late offense, Knoxville could not overcome the early deficit. High-A South Bend Cubs Season Record: N/A Series Opponent: The Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals) Series Standing: N/A April 3: The South Bend Cubs have had a less than ideal start to their season. The opening day ceremonies, and first home opener since 2022, were cut short due to a flooded infield that was deemed unsafe for play. A disappointing day as the South Bend Cubs unveiled their double decker stadium expansion to seat more than 10,000 attendees. April 4: Saturday’s game was also postponed due to Weather and Fielding Conditions. April 5: Sunday’s game was a 7 inning double header against the River Bandits. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans Season Record: 3-0 Series Opponent: Charleston River Dogs (Tampa Bay Rays) Series Standing: 3-0 April 3: Friday’s game for the Pelicans came on the heels of a 15 run blow out against the River Dogs. The Pelicans pulled through with a late game comeback win over Charleston, erasing a 1 run deficit in the 9th on a go-ahead 2 run home run from Cole Mathis to lock the 5-4 victory for the Pelicans. Cole Mathis delivered the securing swing of the night with his 2 run homer in the 9th while Josiah Hartshorn and Micahael Carico each contributed a solo homer earlier in the game. Jordan Henriquez earned the win on the mound. This win over the River Dogs delivers back to back wins for the Pelicans, scoring early in both games. The pelicans delivered a strong continuation off of thursday’s victory by clawing back the win with a multiple homerun game and a strong early offensive outing for Myrtle Beach to open the series. April 4: Break out the broomsticks for Myrtle Beach as the Pelicans held off a late game come back by the River Dogs to sweep the series at home with a final score of 4-3. Alex Lumpuy led Myrtle Beach at the plate with 3 hits and 2 stolen bases. Josiah Hartshorn, Luis Escobar, and Michael Vargas each drove in runs to bring up the Pelican’s lead. On the mound, David Bracho started, with Erisbel Melendez and Dean Jerzembeck each combining for 9 innings of solid pitching, each maintaining a 0.0 ERA for the start of their season. Dean Jerzembeck held the late game rally by the River Dogs to earn the win. On the fielding side for the Pelicans; 3 errors were earned with 2 coming in the 9th inning with a fielding error by Eli Lovich and a throwing error by Lu Espinoza that spurred the late game rally for the River Dogs. April 5: The Pelicans have April 5 and April 6 off to prepare for their stretch on the road against the Columbia Fireflies for a six-game series on April 7 at Segra Park. View full article

There’s a certain magic unique to baseball. Something that only exists in rumors and tall tales. That kind of magic is what gave birth to baseball in South Bend, Indiana. A Ghost and a Glove (1860-1920) On the eve of the Civil War, a man named Henry Benjamin arrived in South Bend, carrying only a worn glove and rules to an unknown game. Before long Henry captivated South Bend with the game of baseball and soon established the first South Bend team, “The Hoosiers”. By 1870, South Bend was steeped in baseball and Henry Benjamin had vanished without a trace — no photos, no newspaper clippings; he was never registered on the census. All that remained of him was the game he brought. In the rusted iron dust and earth of factory back lots, amidst the deafening hum of machinery at the turn of the 19th century, baseball took root and found its rhythm and for over 100 years, grew with the city. In that time, another legend helped take South Bend’s pastime and solidify it as a cornerstone of the city. If Henry Benjamin was the soul of baseball in South Bend, Stanley Coveleski was its flesh and blood. Born to Polish immigrants in the coal-mining town of Shamokin, Pennsylvania. at the age of 12, Stanley Coveleski began working in those coal mines. On his breaks, when he had them, he often honed his aim by throwing rocks at cans. Later in life, he used that arm to secure the win in three games of the 1920 World Series. He finished his career with over 200 wins. When the time came to hang the glove it wasn’t New York or Cleveland where he chose to settle. It was South Bend. Coveleski made this factory town his home, where he offered free pitching lessons to local youth for decades. His impact in the community may have been greatest in backlots, sandlots, and neighborhood ball diamonds where the kids put Coveleski’s lessons to use for years to come, and when the time came, teaching it to kids of their own. The Studebaker Era (1920-1980) In the early days following Coveleski’s retirement in 1929, South Bend had already seen the rise of several early baseball clubs — yeams like the Whitecaps and the legendary Green Stockings. These teams were supported by local business. Factories like the famous Studebaker Company contributed to the construction of many stadiums and fields for their workers. Coveleski’s presence, along with the booming investment from South Bend’s auto industry, helped build a thriving baseball culture. That era, and Coveleski's influence, brought legends like Babe Ruth and later Satchel Paige to town for exhibition games. But no good thing lasts forever. Late into the 1950s, the economy had come to a standstill. As Studebaker struggled to survive, they desperately reclaimed the fields it had built (invoking contract clauses to reclaim ownership). This collapsed the adult, semi-pro, and casual leagues throughout the city. Ball diamonds became land assets and were sold off; Studebaker closed regardless. A City Asleep (1980–2010) Through to the 1980s, baseball had disappeared as South Bend spent decades trying to recover economically from the collapse of local businesses. In 1984, the city turned to a nontraditional approach for change, bringing baseball back. In 1986, yhe city’s first High-A baseball team came to town and in 1988, Stanley Coveleski Stadium was opened next to the ruins of the old Studebaker buildings as a testament of endurance. The pride of a baseball town was reignited with South Bend winning the Midwest League Championships in 1989 and 1993. By 1994, the South Bend Silver Hawks, affiliate for the Diamondbacks replaced the original team. “The Cove” became a community staple and went on to win the City its third Midwest title in 2005. Around that time, word spread that the Diamondbacks were leaving risking a blow to the city that it could not afford. Former Indiana Governor, Joe Kernan, a South Bend native, ballplayer, and POW, led a group of investors to purchase the team in 2006 and “The Cove” celebrated its 4 millionth fan. While the stadium was saved, maintenance slipped and attendance went with it. This was in no small part due to the recession of 2008 which destroyed any economic progress South Bend made since Studebaker. Unemployment skyrocketed and sections of the city rapidly decayed, particularly south of the city where “The Cove” was located. The odds weren’t with the ball club, but the city persisted — they'd unfortunately been in this situation before. Berlin’s At-Bat The former governor found a potential buyer and here is where Andrew Berlin enters the frame. Berlin's initial impression of Coveleski Stadium was that “There were just a couple hundred people there and the place didn’t look that great... Gov. Kernan joked with me that it was Friends and Family Day. As charming and as thoughtful as he was… it was kind of hard to see what we could do with this stadium. It was in a tough place in 2011. [Source: South Bend Tribune] Berlin was hesitant to purchase the team at first but, “Joe convinced me it was a diamond in the rough. Once in, I was all in. I leaned in hard because I wasn’t going to go into a business and not try to be successful." In 2011, Berlin purchased the team and focused on keeping the team in South Bend. With Berlin’s backing and a newfound enthusiasm, attendance skyrocketed by 68% the first year and a new team store was established in left field after the conversation of an old synagogue. The transformation was completed in 2013 with the renaming of the field to “Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium” to honor Caveleski and the local band of Potatwomi tribe. “Four Winds” comes from the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi and represents beginnings, strength, reflection, wisdom, and endurance. Those winds now carry the sound of the game, the roar of the crowd, and the sense that something that was lost has found its way home. The city had its ball team. Now it had to prove it could work. The Cubs Arrive The proof came quickly. On Sept 25, 2014, the South Bend Silver Hawks were re-branded again and “The Cove” had a new team. The South Bend Cubs found their home, with a clear goal — to make Four Winds Field their very own ‘Little Wrigley’. Andrew Berlin contributed several million dollars in investment into the team and its infrastructure by fully renovating the field with new natural turf for first pitch on April 9th, 2015. The next month, the South Bend Cubs opened their state-of-the-art Performance Center; a 17,000-square-foot facility built for top-of-the-line development. Plasters get Major League level analysis and training to make the adjustments and tuning to make it to the professional level. It’s also one of the few places where professional-level instruction is open to the public alongside future Cubs as they refine their game. Its proximity to Wrigley Field and its high-end performance center makes South Bend a natural stop for rehab assignments, where established players return to form alongside those still working to make it to The Show. Where The Road to The Show Begins Since becoming the High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 2015, South Bend has become a true proving ground in the Cubs’ system. Some of the most notable players who have played in South Bend include players like: Nico Hoerner, Christopher Morel, Pete Crow-Armstrong, Miguel Amaya, Brennen Davis, and Owen Caissie who all came through as top prospects that's given South Bend a particular point of pride. This isn’t just a stop along the way though. It’s where the wheat is separated from the chaff, where performance starts to matter, where adjustments take shape, and where potential turns to talent. What happens in South Bend isn’t accidental – it’s built into the level. It’s close enough to Chicago that players get their first glimpses of light from the Marquee while progressing on the long road ahead. There’s no hiding here, only repetition, failure, and the slow process of becoming something that can last. What started with player development didn’t just happen on the field. For the next two years, the South Bend Cubs set attendance record after attendance record, earning recognition for their facilities and securing their place in the Cubs’ system over the long term. But the growth didn’t stop there. The South Bend Cubs were voted best Class A ballpark in the country in 2017 and was given the privilege of hosting the 55th Annual Midwest League All-Star Game and Home Run Derby for the efforts. Something that hadn’t happened in more than 30 years. That momentum rolled right into more investment. The Ivy at Berlin Place rose beyond the outfield wall, the addition of rooftop seating brought a familiar Wrigley feel to South Bend, and the stadium itself expanded to meet the demand. The latest expansion, a $48 million project, will push capacity over 10,000 and position South Bend to make the case for AA or even reach for AAA designation after 2030. This expansion adds a new upper deck level, expanded concourses, and a year-round event space. The new upper deck’s exposed steel support beams were designed to intentionally replicate those at Wrigley Field, furthering the “Little Wrigley” moniker. The city recently purchased the historic Union Train Station across from the ballpark with the hopes of someday connecting a train line to Chicago emulating taking the redline to Wrigley Field. In total, more than $60 million has been invested into Four Winds Field. This investment didn’t just change the stadium — it’s changed the city around it. New apartments with rooftop stands, bars, restaurants are all planned to rap the stadium South Bend has been many things over the decades; a booming factory town, a city shaken by collapse, and now its a baseball town again. This team doesn’t just play in the city. It plays for it. Loyal fans cheer at every crack of the bat, you can feel time reaching back — from Henry Benjamin’s quiet arrival, to Stanley Coveleski’s lasting presence, to the Cubs’ next generation taking shape just a short ride from Chicago. The Cubs didn’t just bring baseball back to South Bend. They helped bring the city back to itself. This is more than a field to the city. It’s more than a game to us. View full article

At a Glance Iowa Cubs (73–72) – Lost two straight, and their postseason hopes are fading fast. Knoxville Smokies – Season concluded earlier in September. South Bend Cubs – Season concluded earlier in September. Myrtle Beach Pelicans – Season concluded earlier in September. Iowa Cubs (Triple-A) September 16 — Toledo 8, Iowa 4 Toledo struck early with a bases-clearing double in the first inning, but Iowa fought back in the middle frames. Miguel Amaya plated a run, Chase Strumpf doubled home another, and Rafael Morel’s two-run single briefly pushed the Cubs ahead 4–3. James Triantos collected three hits, setting the table throughout the night. The Mud Hens reclaimed momentum in the sixth with old friend Gage Workman’s three-run homer, part of a five-run frame that sealed Iowa’s fate. A highlight came in the fifth when Billy Hamilton entered as a pinch-runner and stole both second and third, a flash of trademark speed despite the eventual loss. September 17 — Toledo 5, Iowa 1 (Final/7, rain-shortened) The nightcap started with promise when Chase Strumpf launched a solo homer in the second, his 12th of the year, to tie the game 1–1. That would be Iowa’s lone run. Toledo responded with Jace Jung’s solo homer in the sixth and Andrew Navigato’s two-run double, stretching the margin to four. Jonathon Long singled in the sixth, but the Cubs managed only four hits overall. Rain cut the contest short after seven innings, finalizing the Mud Hens’ sweep. Knoxville Smokies (Double-A) The Smokies’ season concluded earlier in September. South Bend Cubs (High-A) The South Bend season has concluded. Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Single-A) The Pelicans’ season has also wrapped up. Closing Note Two straight losses to Toledo dropped Iowa to 73–72. Their elimination number is nearly gone, and one more stumble—or a rival win—could close out their postseason chase. Still, bright spots like Triantos’ multi-hit efforts and Strumpf’s late-season power surge show pieces of the next wave continuing to press forward. View full article

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images 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? View full article

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images At a Glance Iowa Cubs: 2-0 vs. Omaha, record 66-66 Knoxville Smokies: Split 1-1 vs. Rocket City, record 61-65 South Bend Cubs: Down 0-1 vs. Wisconsin, second game suspended (trail 2-1, B4), record 53-73 Myrtle Beach Pelicans: Split 1-1 vs. Columbia, record 67-58 Iowa Cubs vs. Omaha Iowa opened September by dominating the Storm Chasers. On September 2, the Cubs erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning, leading to a 12-0 rout. Carlos Pérez headlined with two home runs and five RBIs, while Austin Gomber and three relievers combined for a two-hit shutout. The next day was tighter, but Iowa still found a way to come out on top. After Omaha tied the game late, James Triantos came through with an RBI single in the eighth, giving the Cubs a 4-3 win and a 2-0 series edge. The victories nudged Iowa back to the .500 mark and kept their late-season momentum alive. Knoxville Smokies vs. Rocket City Tuesday night turned into frustration for Knoxville, who managed only four hits in a 1-0 loss. A lone RBI double was all Rocket City needed to edge past the Smokies, spoiling a solid start from Tommy Romero. The Smokies answered back on Wednesday. After seven innings ended tied 1-1, Knoxville exploded for four runs in the eighth. Ethan Hearn provided the decisive swing, delivering the game-winner in a 5-4 victory. The Smokies evened the series and snapped back from their offensive slump at the right time. South Bend Cubs vs. Wisconsin South Bend’s margin for error is gone, and Tuesday’s 6-3 loss to Wisconsin made things even tougher. Despite five scoreless innings from starter Dawson Netz and RBIs from the Hernandez brothers, the bullpen faltered late. A two-run double by Andrew Fischer in the seventh proved the backbreaker, and Beloit’s win elsewhere pushed South Bend to the brink of elimination. On Wednesday, the Cubs never got the chance to respond. Rain washed out play in the bottom of the fourth with Wisconsin leading 2-1. The suspended game will resume Thursday at 5:35 PM ET before the regularly scheduled contest. Myrtle Beach Pelicans vs. Columbia The Pelicans saw plenty of fireworks in this two-game stretch. On Tuesday, Angel Cepeda and Alexey Lumpuy homered, but the Fireflies outlasted Myrtle Beach 11-8 with a string of late runs. The script flipped Wednesday. Myrtle Beach struck for five runs in the third inning, powered by Christian Olivo’s triple and timely hits from Ty Southisene and Lumpuy. A wild pitch added more cushion, and the bullpen coasted to a 9-1 win that evened the set. Final Thoughts Four affiliates, four very different storylines -- Iowa’s surge, Knoxville’s resilience, South Bend’s stalled push, and Myrtle Beach’s split. Which club’s late-inning drama stood out most to you? View full article

Image courtesy of © Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images Farm System at a Glance Iowa: 1–1 at Las Vegas, 59–63 overall, 9.5 GB IL West Tennessee: 1–1 at Birmingham, 55–58 overall, 7.0 GB SL North South Bend: 0–2 at Peoria, 30–25 second half (61–60 overall), T-1st MWL West Myrtle Beach: 1–1 at Fayetteville, 64–55 overall, 1st CL South (39–16 second half, magic #3) Triple-A Iowa Cubs August 26 – Las Vegas 10, Iowa 0 The I-Cubs were blanked in the series opener, shut down after four innings by a six-run rally from the Aviators. Antonio Santos worked into the fourth before Las Vegas capitalized with a pair of hit batters, a walk, and a bases-clearing home run from Max Schuemann. Iowa was held to just four hits, all singles, and struck out 11 times. August 27 – Iowa 11, Las Vegas 9 The bats answered back a night later with a back-and-forth slugfest. Carlos Pérez launched two home runs, including a decisive solo shot in the ninth, and Parker Chavers added a two-run double as part of Iowa’s eight-run outburst through the third inning. Forrest Wall doubled home a run, and James Triantos delivered a two-run single in the rally. Las Vegas chipped away with three runs in the third and tied the game at 8–8 by the end of the inning, but Iowa’s bullpen steadied late. Ethan Roberts and Riley Martin closed the door after Pérez’s go-ahead blast. Double-A Knoxville Smokies August 26 – Knoxville 6, Birmingham 2 The Smokies took the opener behind a balanced lineup. Pablo Aliendo’s three-run homer in the second set the tone, while Andy Garriola followed with a two-run shot in the fourth. Jefferson Rojas and Pedro Ramirez each singled to extend innings and add pressure, while starter Tommy Romero allowed just two runs across four innings. Evan Taylor and Chase Watkins combined for three scoreless frames in relief. August 27 – Birmingham 6, Knoxville 2 A night later, the tables turned. Pedro Ramirez homered to tie the game in the sixth, and Andy Garriola’s sacrifice fly briefly put Tennessee ahead in the seventh. But Birmingham stormed back with a five-run eighth, capped by Wilfred Veras’s bases-clearing triple. The Smokies managed eight hits but went 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. High-A South Bend Cubs August 26 – Peoria 12, South Bend 1 South Bend’s road trip opened with a rough defeat. Recently promoted right-hander Dawson Netz made his High-A debut, striking out six in five innings, but the Chiefs piled on late with a nine-run eighth inning. Alexis Hernandez provided the lone highlight with his first Midwest League homer, a solo shot in the seventh. August 27 – Peoria 10, South Bend 2 The struggles continued a night later as the Cubs allowed double-digit runs for the second straight game. Kevin Valdez labored through three innings before Jack Neely yielded a solo homer in relief. Brian Kalmer belted his eighth home run in the seventh, extending Edgar Alvarez’s hitting streak to 10 games, but Peoria’s offense was relentless. Despite the two losses, South Bend remained tied for first in the West Division thanks to consecutive Beloit defeats. Quad Cities crept closer, trimming the gap to 1.5 games. Low-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans August 26 – Fayetteville 1, Myrtle Beach 0 The Pelicans dropped a narrow opener, undone by a solo homer from Arturo Flores in the fifth. Ty Southisene collected two of the team’s four hits and swiped two bases, while Alfredo Romero held Fayetteville to just three hits over five innings. The Pelicans stranded six runners and went hitless with runners in scoring position. August 27 – Myrtle Beach 5, Fayetteville 3 Myrtle Beach evened the series the following night with timely hitting. Eli Lovich grounded out to score the first run, and Christian Olivo and Southisene followed with RBI knocks in the second. Halbach and Kepley each homered to stretch the lead, while Thomas Mangus tossed three scoreless innings for the win. Fayetteville clawed back with two runs in the seventh, but Mathew Peters secured the save. Jose Escobar collected two hits, and the Pelicans trimmed their magic number to clinch the Carolina League South second-half title. South Bend has dropped the first two in Peoria but remains tied for first thanks to Beloit’s struggles. With Quad Cities closing the gap, which club do you see finishing strongest down the stretch in the Midwest League West? View full article

Image courtesy of © MICHAEL CLUBB/SOUTH BEND TRIBUNE / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Farm System at a Glance Iowa Cubs: 1–1 vs. Sugar Land | Season: 59–62 Knoxville Smokies: 0–2 vs. Montgomery | Season: 55–59 South Bend Cubs: 1–1 vs. Cedar Rapids | Season: 50–65 Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 2–0 vs. Charleston | Season: 34–14 (59–53 overall) Iowa Cubs August 19 – Sugar Land 4, Iowa 3 Antonio Santos was charged with the loss despite yielding just two earned runs in five innings, striking out six. The I-Cubs fell behind early on a Pedro León homer and couldn’t fully recover despite late offense. James Triantos collected two hits, a double, a walk, and a stolen base. Carlos Pérez drove in a run with a double, while Kevin Alcántara also notched a multi-hit night. August 20 – Iowa 5, Sugar Land 0 Keegan Thompson fired two scoreless innings of relief for the win in a combined shutout, and the bats broke through in the eighth with five runs. James Triantos doubled in the go-ahead run before Jonathon Long and Carlos Pérez followed with run-scoring doubles of their own. Moisés Ballesteros added a single and reached twice. The victory gave Iowa a split across the two days. Knoxville Smokies August 19 – Montgomery 5, Knoxville 2 The Smokies managed just two runs in the loss. Ethan Hearn supplied the big swing with his sixth home run of the year, while Brett Bateman went 2-for-4 with a double and a stolen base. Starter Chase Watkins pitched four innings, allowing two unearned runs. August 20 – Montgomery 4, Knoxville 1 Knoxville couldn’t solve Montgomery’s pitching in a 4–1 defeat. Walker Powell kept the game close with three runs allowed in five innings, but the Biscuits scratched across runs in the third and fifth and tacked on insurance late. Pedro Ramirez doubled in the ninth to score Bateman for the Smokies’ lone run. Jefferson Rojas finished hitless, though he contributed defensively. South Bend Cubs August 19 – South Bend 3, Cedar Rapids 2 Connor Schultz struck out six over 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in a pitchers’ duel. Ariel Armas extended his hit streak to six with an RBI double, and Brian Kalmer capped the night with a sacrifice fly to right that plated the winning run in walk-off fashion. August 20 – Cedar Rapids 6, South Bend 4 South Bend built an early 3–0 cushion on Alexis Hernandez’s two-run double in his first Four Winds Field at-bat. Kevin Valdez cruised through five innings before defensive miscues and a bases-loaded single from Poncho Ruiz flipped the game in the sixth. On rehab assignment, veteran reliever Eli Morgan worked a clean seventh. Cristian Hernandez doubled home a run in the eighth, but the Kernels held on. Myrtle Beach Pelicans August 19 – Myrtle Beach 8, Charleston 2 The Pelicans strung together a decisive fourth inning, scoring three runs on RBIs from Cepeda, Christian Olivo, and Ty Southisene. Cepeda later crushed a three-run homer in the seventh, finishing 2-for-4 with four RBIs. Eli Lovich tripled and drove in a run, while Victor Zarraga earned the win in relief. August 20 – Myrtle Beach 8, Charleston 7 (11 innings) Cepeda delivered again, going 4-for-5 with two doubles and an RBI, while Dilan Granadillo launched his first homer of the season. Charleston briefly took a 7–5 lead in the 10th, but the Pelicans rallied with two outs as Cepeda doubled home a run and Granadillo tied it. In the 11th, Ty Southisene’s grounder plated Jose Escobar for the walk-off. Mathew Peters earned the win with a scoreless frame, while Escobar contributed three hits. View full article

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Farm System at a Glance Iowa Cubs: 1–1 vs. Worcester | Season: 56–60 Knoxville Smokies: 0–2 @ Rocket City | Season: 50–54 South Bend Cubs: 2–0 @ Beloit | Season: 24–19 (2nd Half) Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 1–1 @ Columbia | Season: 30–12 (2nd Half) Iowa Cubs August 12 – Worcester 7, Iowa 4 The I-Cubs traded early blows with Worcester before the WooSox broke through late. Owen Caissie tied the game with a solo homer in the fifth, and James Triantos’ RBI double in the sixth knotted it again at 3–3. But the bullpen couldn’t hold, allowing a go-ahead run in the seventh and three more in the ninth. Moisés Ballesteros added an RBI in the ninth as Iowa’s rally fell short. August 13 – Iowa 1, Worcester 0 A pitcher’s duel belonged to Jameson Taillon in his third rehab start. The right-hander delivered 5.1 scoreless frames, allowing two hits and striking out four. The lone run came in the sixth, when Chase Strumpf singled in Triantos. Keegan Thompson bridged to the finish with 1.2 scoreless innings, earning his fourth win. Iowa improved to 56–60 and continues the homestand Thursday. Knoxville Smokies August 12 – Rocket City 5, Knoxville 0 Knoxville was limited to four hits and went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position. Starter Antonio Santos allowed three runs (two earned) over four innings, while Jefferson Rojas doubled in the fourth for the Smokies’ lone extra-base hit. Rocket City broke the game open with a Colás two-run homer in the eighth. August 13 – Rocket City 5, Knoxville 0 The Smokies again struggled to solve Trash Pandas pitching. Grant Kipp was charged with four runs (two earned) in four-plus innings, with two balks bringing in runs during the fifth. Knoxville’s best chance came in the second inning, loading the bases with one out, but a double play ended the threat. The offense struck out 15 times and left six on base, slipping to 50–54 on the season. South Bend Cubs August 12 – South Bend 4, Beloit 2 Connor Schultz tossed five innings of one-run ball, aided by Kade Snell’s home run robbery in the fifth. The Cubs were 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position until the seventh, when Edgar Alvarez’s two-run single capped a three-run frame. Rafael Morel’s RBI double in the eighth provided insurance. The bullpen held, though Kenyi Perez walked the bases loaded in the ninth before Jackson Kirkpatrick induced a game-ending double play. August 13 – South Bend 12, Beloit 1 Erian Rodriguez fanned a career-high nine over five shutout innings, and the offense rolled to a division-shaping win. Rafael Morel went 4-for-6 with three RBIs, Drew Bowser drove in five, and the Cubs walked 11 times for the second straight game. A six-run eighth inning sealed the rout, bringing South Bend into a tie for first in the Midwest League West second-half standings. Myrtle Beach Pelicans August 12 – Myrtle Beach 10, Columbia 1 Matt Halbach’s two-run performance highlighted a balanced attack, with a homer, sacrifice fly, and three RBIs. Alfredo Romero spun five shutout innings, and the Pelicans scored in five different frames. Ty Southisene added two hits and two RBIs, while Christian Olivo drove in a pair. Myrtle Beach left 11 on base but went 4-for-14 with runners in scoring position. August 13 – Columbia 7, Myrtle Beach 6 (10 in.) Kevin Camacho allowed one run over five innings, and Myrtle Beach built a 5–1 lead by the ninth on a three-RBI night from Kane Kepley. But Columbia rallied with four runs in the ninth to force extras, then walked it off in the tenth. Angel Cepeda’s RBI double play briefly put the Pelicans ahead in extras, but a pair of Fireflies runs ended it. The series sits at 1–1 heading into Thursday. View full article

Image courtesy of © Lily Smith/The Register / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Farm System at a Glance Affiliate Series Record Season Record Iowa Cubs 1–1 @ Toledo & St. Paul 49–60 Knoxville Smokies 1–1 vs. Biloxi 59–49 South Bend Cubs 2–0 vs. Fort Wayne 42–61 Myrtle Beach Pelicans 0–1 vs. Fredericksburg 51–49 Iowa Cubs August 5 – St. Paul 10, Iowa 5 The I-Cubs' pitching just didn't show up for this one, as starter Chris Kachmar got lit up to the tune of six runs, four hits, and five walks in just 3 2/3 innings. Gavin Hollowell also gave up four runs in his lone inning of work, though none of them were earned thanks to a throwing error from Ben Cowles. At least Miguel Amaya and Moises Ballesteros combined for three hits and three RBIs. August 6 – Iowa 7, St. Paul 4 In a bounce-back win to open a road set in Minnesota, Iowa erupted for six runs in the seventh inning to erase a deficit and secure a 7–4 victory. The offense capitalized on erratic pitching from the Saints' bullpen, even though Taj Bradley delivered a strong start with six quality innings. Knoxville Smokies August 5 – Smokies 5, Shuckers 4 Trailing 4–3 entering the bottom of the seventh, the Smokies found late-inning magic. Pedro Ramirez drew a walk and later scored the tying run on a throwing error, then Reivaj Garcia followed with a go-ahead single. Brad Deppermann shut the door with a scoreless ninth, and Tyler Santana earned the win with two clean frames. Jaylen Palmer’s two-run triple was the early spark. August 6 – Shuckers 8, Smokies 4 The Smokies carried a 1-run lead into the eighth but were undone by sloppy relief work and a costly error. Biloxi erupted for six runs in the frame off Mitchell Tyranski and Zac Leigh, and Knoxville’s ninth-inning push fell short despite a two-run single by Brett Bateman. Jefferson Rojas reached base four times and Pedro Ramirez stole his 26th bag. South Bend Cubs August 5 – South Bend 6, Fort Wayne 5 South Bend rallied from an early 3–0 hole and held on late for a 6–5 win. Debuting outfielder Kade Snell doubled in his first professional at-bat, and Ariel Armas delivered a 3-for-3, four-RBI performance that included a go-ahead two-run homer in the sixth. Connor Schultz struck out six across five innings, and Luis Rujano earned the save after a nail-biting ninth. August 6 – South Bend 8, Fort Wayne 2 The Cubs pounced on the TinCaps bullpen and never looked back. Armas doubled twice and drove in four more runs, becoming the first player in South Bend Cubs history with three different 3-hit, 4-RBI games in the same season. Erian Rodriguez earned the win with six solid innings, while the bullpen trio of Yency Almonte, Grayson Moore, and Kenyi Perez closed the door. Myrtle Beach Pelicans August 5 – Fredericksburg 7, Myrtle Beach 3 The Nationals ambushed Ronny Lopez for five first-inning runs, including a grand slam by Angel Feliz, and held off the Pelicans from there. Angel Cepeda cut the deficit with a two-run homer in the fourth, and Myrtle Beach’s bullpen kept things close, but the offense couldn’t complete the comeback. August 6 – Postponed Wednesday’s game was postponed due to rain. The teams will play a doubleheader on August 7 beginning at 6:05 PM ET. View full article

Image courtesy of © Saul Young/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Farm System at a Glance: Iowa Cubs: 0–2 vs. St. Paul | Season: 50–54 Knoxville Smokies: 1–1 @ Chattanooga | Season: 60–45 South Bend Cubs: 0–2 vs. Quad Cities | Season: 37–60 Myrtle Beach Pelicans: 0–2 @ Charleston | Season: 47–48 Iowa Cubs St. Paul 6, Iowa 3 (July 29) The I-Cubs fell behind early and couldn’t recover in the opener, with starter Walker Powell surrendering four runs over five innings. Bradlee Beesley homered for Iowa, his fourth of the season, and David Bote doubled twice in a two-hit game. Matt Mervis reached three times but was stranded each time as the Cubs went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. St. Paul 10, Iowa 2 (July 30) A four-run first inning set the tone as St. Paul rolled in the finale. Riley Thompson was chased after just 1 1/3 innings, and the bullpen couldn’t contain the Saints, who posted 10 runs on 14 hits. Owen Caissie doubled and walked, while Mervis added an RBI single. Jordan Wicks, on rehab, threw a scoreless inning in relief with two strikeouts. Knoxville Smokies Chattanooga 8, Knoxville 4 (July 29) Starter Brandon Birdsell was tagged for six runs in just 3 2/3 innings, and a late Smokies rally fell short. Moisés Ballesteros doubled and singled, while Matt Shaw also reached twice. Haydn McGeary launched his 13th homer of the year, a solo shot in the ninth, but the bullpen couldn’t keep the Lookouts from tacking on insurance runs. Knoxville 4, Chattanooga 1 (July 30) The Smokies bounced back behind seven strong frames from Tyler Schlaffer, who allowed just one run and struck out six. Pablo Aliendo opened the scoring with a solo homer in the third—his seventh—and later singled. Jordan Nwogu had three hits, stole his 17th base, and drove in two runs during a critical seventh-inning rally that broke the game open. Zac Leigh and Brad Deppermann worked perfect eighth and ninth innings, respectively, to seal the win. South Bend Cubs Quad Cities 2, South Bend 0 (July 29) Despite a quality start from Connor Schultz, who allowed one run over six innings, the Cubs were blanked at the plate. South Bend managed just two singles—one each from Alfonsin Rosario and Jose Escobar—while Quad Cities starter Tyson Guerrero struck out nine in six scoreless frames. Quad Cities 2, South Bend 1 (July 30) Erian Rodriguez pitched seven strong innings, striking out five and allowing only one earned run, but again the bats came up short. Edgar Alvarez provided the lone offense with a solo homer in the seventh, his fifth of the year. Rehabbing Cub Yency Almonte made his first appearance since May 2024 and struck out two in a perfect eighth inning. Myrtle Beach Pelicans Charleston 4, Myrtle Beach 2 (July 29) Ronny Lopez tossed five shutout innings in just his second Carolina League start, and the Pelicans led 2-0 heading into the eighth thanks to back-to-back RBI doubles by Leonel Espinoza and Jose Escobar. But the bullpen faltered late, with Luis Reyes allowing four runs in the bottom of the frame on a wild pitch and a trio of RBI singles. Charleston 4, Myrtle Beach 3 (July 30) The RiverDogs again used a late-inning surge to edge the Pelicans, spoiling a strong bullpen effort. Myrtle Beach clawed back in the ninth behind a two-run double from Alexis Hernandez but came up short with the tying run on base. Dawson Netz shined in his Pelicans debut with 3 1/3 scoreless innings of relief, while Matt Halbach and Jose Escobar added two hits each. View full article

Image courtesy of © Angelina Alcantar/News Sentinel / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images Triple-A – Iowa Cubs (0–2 at Louisville) Season: 43–55 It was a milestone night for Owen Caissie on Tuesday, who went 5-for-5 with a two-run homer, a double, and three singles in Iowa’s 9–4 loss. The 21-year-old slugger became the first Iowa Cub this season to record five hits in a game and reached the 20-home-run mark in the process. Despite his heroics, Louisville responded with a balanced attack, capitalizing on three errors and tagging starter Chris Kachmar for four earned runs over five innings. Christian Encarnacion-Strand drove in five, including a three-run homer in the fifth that broke things open. On Wednesday, Iowa again started strong offensively with a solo homer from Jonathon Long—his 15th of the year—but a five-run sixth inning for Louisville buried any comeback hopes. Caissie added another two hits, finishing the series 7-for-9, but bullpen struggles and defensive lapses led to a 13–6 loss, Iowa’s fifth in a row. Double-A – Knoxville Smokies (0–2 vs. Pensacola) Season: 52–48 Knoxville opened its home series with a grueling 13-inning loss on Tuesday, blowing a two-run lead in the ninth before falling 6–4. Starter Antonio Santos allowed just one hit over three scoreless innings, but the bullpen couldn’t hold a 3–1 edge late. Pensacola rallied for two in the ninth and plated three more in the 13th, capitalizing on a lead-off walk and defensive miscommunication to take control. The Smokies managed only one hit after the eighth inning and went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The bats stayed quiet on Wednesday in a 5–2 defeat. Sam Armstrong allowed four runs in four innings, including a two-run homer in the third. Knoxville scored twice on RBI singles from Haydn McGeary and Kevin Alcántara, but the offense left eight men on base. The Smokies have now lost five straight and slipped out of the division lead in the Southern League North. High-A – South Bend Cubs (2–0 at Dayton) Season: 41–54 South Bend stayed hot in Dayton, opening the series Tuesday with a 9–2 victory highlighted by a six-run sixth inning. Rafael Morel’s bases-clearing double broke open a 3–2 game, and Brian Kalmer followed with a two-run home, his 14th of the season. Connor Schultz allowed two runs across 4.2 innings, and Evan Taylor tossed 2.1 scoreless frames to pick up the win. The Cubs made it four wins in five games on Wednesday with a 6–2 decision. Pedro Ramirez reached base three times and scored twice, while Andy Garriola and Jefferson Rojas each drove in runs during a four-run fourth inning. South Bend’s bullpen held Dayton to just one hit over the final five innings, securing the series with back-to-back double-digit hit totals. Single-A – Myrtle Beach Pelicans (2–0 vs. Columbia) Season: 49–49 The Pelicans returned home and quickly extended their winning streak to five games with a pair of sharp wins over Columbia. On Tuesday, Owen Ayers opened the scoring with a three-run homer in the first inning—his eighth of the year. Alexey Lumpuy added a two-run shot in the fourth, and the bullpen combined for five scoreless innings to seal a 9–3 win. Myrtle Beach kept rolling Wednesday, jumping out early again and riding strong defense to a 6–2 victory. Cristian Hernandez doubled twice and scored twice, while Ariel Armas reached base in all four plate appearances. Starter Marino Santy allowed one earned run over five innings, and reliever Saul Gonzalez notched his fifth save. The Pelicans returned to .500 with the sweep and sit just two games back in the Carolina League South second-half race. Affiliate Record, Series Notable Performances Iowa Cubs 43–55, 0–2 at Louisville Caissie: 7-for-9, HR, 2B, 3 RBI Knoxville Smokies 52–48, 0–2 vs. Pensacola 13-inning loss, 5-game losing skid South Bend Cubs 41–54, 2–0 at Dayton Morel, Kalmer lead 6-run inning Myrtle Beach Pelicans 49–49, 2–0 vs. Columbia Ayers, Lumpuy homer; five straight wins View full article