Cubs Affiliate Overview (September 4-5)
Triple-A Iowa Cubs
Series vs. Omaha Storm Chasers (Kansas City Royals): Cubs lead 4-0
Season Record: 69-66
Double-A Knoxville Smokies
Series vs. Rocket City Trash Pandas (Los Angeles Angels): Cubs Lead 3-1
Season Record: 63-65
High-A South Bend Cubs
Series vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (Milwaukee Brewers): Tied 2-2
Season Record: 55–74
Single-A Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Series at Columbia Fireflies (Kansas City Royals): Fireflies lead 3-1
Season Record: 67–60
Triple-A: Iowa Cubs
Season Record: 69–66
Series Opponent: Omaha Storm Chasers (55–79)
Series Standing: Lead 4-0
Sept. 4: The Iowa Cubs extended their winning streak to a season-long six games, clinching at least a series split, with a second-straight 4-3 victory over the Omaha Storm Chasers. Trailing 3-0 in the fourth, the Cubs evened the contest with two bases-loaded walks and an RBI-single from Chase Strumpf (1-for-4). Carlos Peréz (1-for-3) was hit by a pitch with the bases-loaded in the seventh, which would prove to be the winning run. Jonathan Long went 2-for-3 with a run scored and was the lone Iowa batter to post a multi-hit effort, as the I-Cubs were out-hit 11-5. Jameson Taillon made his first rehab start since hitting the IL on Aug. 28 and allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings, striking out six. Cubs pitchers combined to whiff 17, matching a season-high mark.
Sept. 5: The I-Cubs clinched a series victory over Omaha as their season-long winning streak reached seven games with a dramatic 12-11 walk-off victory on Friday night. Hayden Cantrelle (3-for-5) played hero, doubling with two outs in the ninth to drive home the winning run. Moisés Ballesteros and Carlos Peréz also went 3-for-5 in the contest, with Peréz launching his 26th home run of the campaign, a solo shot, in the sixth. Caleb Knight (1-for-4) matched a season high with three RBI as the Cubs offense posted 14 hits in the ballgame, going 7-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Double-A: Knoxville Smokies
Season Record: 63–65
Series Opponent: Rocket City Trash Pandas (44–85)
Series Standing: Lead 3-1
Sept. 4: The Knoxville Smokies tossed a one-hitter against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Thursday night to earn a 4-0 victory. After posting his first four-hit game of the season on Aug. 28, Pedro Ramirez was even better tonight, going 5-for-5 with two runs scored, three doubles and an RBI. His run-scoring double in the third was all the offense the Smokies would need in the contest. Corey Joyce (2-for-5) and Jordan Nwogu (2-for-4) each had multi-hit efforts. Connor Schultz was stellar again, delivering his second-straight quality start in his second-career start at the Double-A level. Schultz allowed just one hit over seven scoreless frames, whiffing a season-best eight batters.
Sept. 5: The Smokies clinched at least a series split with a 5-4 walk-off victory, in 10 innings, over the Trash Pandas on Friday night to win their third-straight contest. Brett Bateman (1-for-1) and BJ Murray Jr. (4-for-5) each had RBI-singles in the 10th to clinch the win. Murray Jr. had the game-winning knock, helping him earn his second four-hit game of the season and first since May 13. Corey Joyce went 2-for-5 to extend his hitting streak to five games. A.J. Puckett picked up the win out of the bullpen, working two scoreless frames, striking out three batters.
High-A: South Bend Cubs
Season Record: 55–74
Series Opponent: Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (55–73)
Series Standing: Tied 2-2
Sept. 4: The South Bend Cubs swept a doubleheader on Thursday, winning Wednesday’s suspended game, 5-3, before earning a 7-4 victory in seven innings in the nightcap.
Game 1: The Cubs were trailing 2-1 in the bottom of the fourth on Wednesday before play was suspended due to rain and would go on to win 5-3 when play resumed Thursday. Kade Snell’s (1-for-3) RBI-single in the sixth broke a 2-2 tie before the Timber Rattlers again tied the ballgame at 3-3 in the seventh. Brian Kalmer (1-for-3) had the game-winning swing, crushing a two-run blast in the eighth. Ariel Armas went 3-for-4 with a run scored, posting his second-straight multi-hit effort. Jackson Kirkpatrick earned the win in relief, working two scoreless frames and picking up three strikeouts.
Game 2: South Bend earned a 7-4 win over Wisconsin to sweep Thursday’s doubleheader. After a sacrifice fly from Brian Kalmer (0-for-2), Drew Bowser (1-for-3) made it a 3-0 game in the first with a two-run single. Ariel Armas (2-for-3) pushed the lead to four with a two-run double in the fourth. Armas has now started the month with three-straight multi-hit efforts. Nazier Mulé did not factor into the decision in his start, allowing two runs on four hits over 3 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two.
Sept. 5: The Cubs fell to the Timber Rattlers, 9-2, on Friday night. Alexis Hernandez went 2-for-4 at the dish and was the lone South Bend hitter to record multiple hits in the ballgame. Reginald Preciado (1-for-4) and Rafael Morel (1-for-4) drove in South Bend’s runs with RBI in the second. Brooks Caple did not factor in the decision despite his quality start, his second at High-A this season. Caple allowed one run on three hits over six innings of work, striking out five without issuing a walk.
Single-A: Myrtle Beach Pelicans
Season Record: 67–60
Series Opponent: Columbia Fireflies (64–64)
Series Standing: Trail 3-1
Sept. 4: The Myrtle Beach Pelicans suffered a 4-3 defeat to the Columbia Fireflies on Thursday. After falling behind 2-0 in the third, the Pelicans answered with three runs in the bottom half of the frame to take the lead, with Angel Cepeda’s (2-for-3) RBI-single breaking the deadlock. The Fireflies would knot the game at 3-3 in the sixth before taking the lead again in the ninth. Noah Edders worked two shutout innings out of the bullpen, striking out three batters and retiring all six that he faced.
Sept. 5: Despite recording 10 hits in the ballgame, the Pelicans fell to the Fireflies, 10-1, on Friday night. Eight of the nine Myrtle Beach batters recorded at least one hit in the contest, with Alexey Lumpuy (2-for-5) and Eli Lovich (2-for-3) each posting multi-hit efforts. The Pelicans would go just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, leaving 11 runners on base. Victor Zarraga took the loss despite his solid start, allowing three runs on five hits in five innings of work, whiffing three batters.
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