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Pelicans Throw Shutout Gem: Cubs Prospects Blank Charleston 6-0
Cubs Minor League Recap: August 1, 2026 – Two Wins, Two Losses Across the System
Welcome to the farm report! If you’re new to minor league baseball, think of it like a school system for pros. Players start in Low-A (elementary), move to High-A (middle), then Double-A (high school), then Triple-A (college), hoping to graduate to the Majors (the big leagues, like the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field).
Tonight, four Cubs affiliates played. Two won, two lost. Let’s break it all down in simple terms.
Iowa Cubs (Triple-A) – Lost 7–4 to Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees)
The top-level Cubs squad got run over in a 7–4 loss. Here’s what happened:
Pitching Struggles
- Grant Kipp (Starter): Threw 4⅔ innings (that’s 4 full innings plus 2 outs). He gave up 4 runs on only 2 hits, but walked 3 batters (free passes to first base) and struck out 2.
- Eduarniel Núñez (Reliever): Came in during the 5th inning. Took the loss. Threw 1⅓ innings, gave up 2 runs on 3 hits. The very first batter he faced hit a three-run home run (a hit that scores three runs at once!). Walked 1, struck out 1.
Important: Two of the runs Kipp was charged with actually scored after Núñez came in. That’s how baseball scoring works — runners left on base count against the pitcher who put them there.
- Hoby Milner (Rehab Start): Threw 1⅓ innings to get back in shape after an injury. Gave up a solo home run (scores 1 run) to the first batter, George Lombard Jr. That was the only run he allowed. 2 hits, 1 strikeout, 0 walks.
- Ethan Roberts (Rehab): Pitched the 9th inning. Hit the first batter (ouch!), but that runner got caught stealing (thrown out trying to sneak to the next base). Faced the minimum 3 batters after that. 1 strikeout.
Offensive Highlights
| Player | Position | Stats | Key Moment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ben Cowles | 2B | 2-for-3, 1 walk, 2-run single | Big hit in the 4th inning |
| Brett Bateman | RF | 2-for-4, 1 walk, 1 run scored | Solid night at the plate |
| Moisés Ballesteros | C | 2-for-4, RBI single | Also threw out 2 of 3 base stealers! |
| Chas McCormick | CF | 1-for-3, 1 walk, RBI double | Drove in a run with a double |
ELI5 Term: "RBI" = Run Batted In. When your hit helps a teammate score, you get an RBI.
Knoxville Smokies (Double-A) – Lost 3–2 in 10 Innings to Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins)
Extra innings! The Smokies fought hard but fell short in the 10th.
Pitching
- Brooks Caple (Starter): 5 innings, 2 runs (both on a 2-run homer in the 3rd), 5 hits, 2 walks, 4 strikeouts. Otherwise, he was sharp.
- Tyler Schlaffer (Reliever): 3 innings, 1 unearned run in the 10th (scored because of a defensive mistake, not his fault), 4 hits, 0 walks, 3 strikeouts. Took the loss because the Smokies didn’t score in the bottom of the 10th.
ELI5 Term: "Unearned run" = A run that scores because of an error (mistake) by the defense. It doesn’t count against the pitcher’s ERA (earned run average).
Offense
- Ariel Armas (Catcher): Hit a 2-run home run in the 4th inning — the only runs for Knoxville. It was his 3rd homer of the year. Finished 1-for-3 with a walk.
South Bend Cubs (High-A) – WON 10–3 over Lake County Captains (Guardians)
Big bats and great relief pitching led to a blowout win!
Pitching
- Alfredo Romero (Starter): 3⅔ innings, 2 runs, 2 hits, but 5 walks (control issues) and 3 strikeouts. Didn’t go 5 innings, so he couldn’t get the win.
- Jackson Brockett (Reliever): Got the win! Threw 3 perfect innings — zero hits allowed, zero runs, 2 walks, 5 strikeouts. Dominant.
Offensive Explosion
| Player | Position | Stats | Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Hallquist | 2B | 2-for-4, 2 HRs, 2 walks | 1⃣ 2-run HR in 2nd inning 2⃣ Solo HR in 5th inning |
| Kade Snell | CF | 3-for-5, 1 walk, 2 runs, 2 stolen bases | Red hot! |
| Michael Carico | 1B | 2-for-5, 2 doubles, 1 walk, 2 runs, 1 RBI | Doubles machine |
| Jose Escobar | LF | 3-for-4, 1 walk, 1 hit-by-pitch | Reached base 5 times! |
| Angel Cepeda | SS | 3-for-6, 1 double, 1 run, 1 RBI | Consistent contact |
| Matt Halbach | 3B | 2-for-5, 1 walk, 1 run, 1 RBI | Solid contributor |
| Geuri Lubo | RF | 2-for-6, 2 RBI, 1 run | Drove in two runs |
ELI5 Term: "Stolen base" = Runner sprints to the next base while the pitcher is throwing — no hit needed. Speed + timing!
Myrtle Beach Pelicans (Low-A) – WON 6–0 over Charleston RiverDogs (Rays)
A shutout! The other team scored zero runs. Three pitchers combined for a two-hitter.
Pitching – A Masterclass
| Pitcher | Innings | Hits | Runs | Walks | Strikeouts | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Noah Edders (Starter) | 5 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 7 | First pro win! |
| Edwardo Melendez | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | Kept the zero going |
| Sam Mettert | 1 (9th) | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | Perfect inning — 3 up, 3 down |
ELI5 Term: "Shutout" = Pitchers don’t allow any runs. "No-hitter" = No hits allowed. This was a two-hit shutout — close!
Offense – 5 Runs in the 2nd Inning!
- Alexey Lumpuy (CF): 3-run triple (hit to the wall, scores 3!) in a 5-run 2nd inning. Finished 2-for-4 with a walk.
- Jhoander Irigoyen (DH): Debut game! Went 3-for-3 with a walk — perfect at the plate. Scored on Lumpuy’s triple.
- Jose Silva (C): 1-for-3, 1 walk, RBI double, 1 run scored.
Key Takeaways (Callout Box)
Standout Performances
- Jackson Brockett (SB): 3 perfect relief innings, 5 K’s, Win
- Noah Edders (MB): 5 IP, 1 hit, 7 K’s, First pro win
- Michael Hallquist (SB): Two home runs in one game!
- Jhoander Irigoyen (MB): 3-for-3 in pro debut — rare!
- Moisés Ballesteros (IA): 2-for-4 + threw out 2 base stealers
- Kade Snell (SB): 3 hits, 2 steals, 2 runs — table-setter
Areas to Watch
- Alfredo Romero (SB): 5 walks in < 4 innings — command needs work
- Grant Kipp (IA): 3 walks, only 4⅔ IP — efficiency matters at AAA
- Eduarniel Núñez (IA): 3-run HR to 1st batter — tough luck, but must limit damage
Summary
| Team | Level | Result | Key Storyline |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa Cubs | AAA | L 4–7 | Pen struggles; Ballesteros shines on D |
| Knoxville Smokies | AA | L 2–3 (10) | Armas HR only offense; tough extra-inning loss |
| South Bend Cubs | High-A | W 10–3 | Hallquist 2 HRs; Brockett 3 perfect IP |
| Myrtle Beach Pelicans | Low-A | W 6–0 | Shutout! Edders 1st win; Irigoyen 3-for-3 debut |
System-wide: 2–2 on the night. Power in South Bend, pitching dominance in Myrtle Beach, growing pains in Iowa, heartbreak in Knoxville.
FAQ – Minor League Baseball Basics
Q: What do AAA, AA, High-A, and Low-A mean?
A: They’re like grade levels. Low-A = youngest/least experienced. High-A = next step. Double-A (AA) = advanced prospects. Triple-A (AAA) = one step from the Majors. Players move up as they improve.
Q: What’s a “rehab start”?
A: When a Major League player is injured, they play a few games in the minors to build strength before returning. Hoby Milner and Ethan Roberts are Cubs MLB pitchers doing this.
Q: Why did Jackson Brockett get the win if he didn’t start?
A: A starter must pitch 5+ innings to qualify for a win. Romero only went 3⅔. The official scorer picks the most effective reliever — Brockett was perfect.
Q: What’s a “three-run triple”?
A: A triple = batter reaches 3rd base safely. If the bases were loaded (runners on 1st, 2nd, 3rd), all three score + the batter = 4 runs max. Here, Lumpuy’s triple scored 3 runs (bases loaded or 2 on + him).
Q: How can a pitcher give up a run but it’s “unearned”?
A: If a fielder makes an error (drops a catch, bad throw) and a run scores because of that mistake, it’s unearned. The pitcher didn’t “earn” it — the defense gifted it.
That’s a wrap on August 1st!
Tomorrow’s games bring new chances. Will Hallquist stay hot? Can Edders build on his win? Will Iowa’s bullpen bounce back?
Stay tuned — the farm never sleeps.
