In a night filled with mixed results for the Cubs’ minor league affiliates, the South Bend Cubs stood out with a commanding 6-3 victory over the Ft. Wayne TinCaps, marking their eighth consecutive win. Cole Reynolds took the mound and earned the victory, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings, with both runs coming from solo home runs. He struck out five batters and issued just one walk, showcasing his ability to limit damage.
Reliever Adam Stone continued the strong performance, surrendering only one run on a solo home run while striking out three batters in his three innings of work. Ethan Bell closed out the game, allowing a single base runner—a one-out double—but no runs, securing the save with one strikeout. Left fielder Miguel Useche provided some insurance with a solo home run in the eighth, finishing the night 2 for 4 with two runs scored. Designated hitter Kane Kepley also contributed significantly, going 2 for 3 with a triple, a walk, and his 28th steal of the season, which leads the Midwest League.
In contrast, the Iowa Cubs struggled against the Indianapolis Indians, falling 3-0. Javier Assad started strong but was charged with the loss after allowing one run on four hits over 4.1 innings. He struck out five batters and walked just one before leaving the game. The Iowa offense managed seven hits, all singles, but went 0 for 3 with runners in scoring position, with designated hitter BJ Murray recording a solid 2 for 3 performance with a walk.
The Tennessee Smokies faced off against the Chattanooga Lookouts, suffering a narrow 3-2 defeat. Connor Schultz, activated off the injured list, started the game and allowed two runs in the first inning but settled down thereafter, finishing with two runs on five hits over five innings while striking out eight without issuing a walk. Nick Dean followed with two innings of relief, giving up one run on two hits, and was tagged with the loss. Right fielder Alex Ramírez shone at the plate, going 3 for 5 with a double and two stolen bases, while both Smokies runs came from errors in the first inning.
Lastly, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans fell short against the Wilson Warbirds, losing 4-3. Starter Kaleb Wing delivered three scoreless innings, allowing just three hits, while Jordan Henriquez struggled in relief, giving up two runs in the eighth and ninth innings. Right fielder Eli Lovich hit a solo home run, his sixth of the season, and catcher Logan Poteet brought the Pelicans within a run with a leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth, marking his seventh of the season. Shortstop Deniche Valdez also contributed with a 2 for 4 night at the plate.
Note: This recap is an independently written summary based on publicly available reporting.
