Cubs Minor League News: Walk-offs, Blasts & Breakout bats around the system

Caissie is still mashing in Iowa (Photo courtesy: Iowa Cubs)

Dustin Riese · Senior Writer · 9 hours ago

Things can finally get back to normal this week, which means a full slate of Minor League action will be taking place. With this marking the first time in over a week that a normal schedule would be in effect, the Cubs did their best to perform well, only to finish 3-4 on the night.

LOUISVILLE BATS 9 - IOWA CUBS 4

Despite some early offense that gave the Cubs a brief lead, it was the Bats who had the last laugh as they scored eight times in a span of three innings en route to an easy 9-4 win. Chris Kachmar didn't have his best stuff on the mound, as he was touched up for five runs (four earned) in four innings, continuing to adjust to AAA pitching.

Trailing 1-0 in the third after a PJ Higgins double gave the Bats the lead, it was the hottest hitter on the planet in Owen Caissie coming through as he connected for his 20th homer of the season to begin the third to put the Cubs in front 2-1.

"YOU CAN FORGET ABOUT THAT BALL" @jkempradio

424 FEET OWEN CAISSIE'S BAT pic.twitter.com/XutXXZzPxU
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 22, 2025

It was a lead that was short-lived as Christian Encarnacion-Strand uncorked a three-run homer in the bottom of the inning to put the Bats back in 4-2, and they would never look back.

It only got worse from there for the Cubs with Levi Jordan adding a sacrifice fly in the fourth, but with Christian Franklin tacking on a single in the fifth, the Cubs were still within striking distance, 5-3.

Christian Franklin drives in an RBI!

5-3 Louisville pic.twitter.com/r45wNlN55Z
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 23, 2025

The bottom of the fifth is when the Bats put the game away, as they pushed across four runs to break things wide open 9-3.

Encarnacion-Strand got the party started with a two-run single, while Higgins and Sal Stewart all had RBI knocks as part of the big inning. Moises Ballesteros tacked on an RBI single later in the game for the Cubs, but it wasn't enough as Louisville takes the opener 9-4.

PENSACOLA BLUE WAHOOS 6 - KNOXVILLE SMOKIES 4 (F/13)

Talk about an interesting game in the Smokie Mountains. After watching the Smokies deliver a strong pitching performance that saw them lead 1-0 late, it was the Blue Wahoos who managed to take the lead in the ninth, only to see the Smokies rally to force extras. That is when the fun started as both teams delivered knockout blow after knockout blow in extras, only to have Pensacola come out on top 6-4.

This was all about starting pitching early, as Antonio Santos struck out four across three shutout innings, which set the tone for most of the game. Going up against Alex Williams, who struck out two in five innings, it was the Smokies holding a 1-0 lead as a first-inning RBI single from Corey Joyce would be the game's only run until late.

Still leading by that 1-0 score in the ninth, the Smokies watched the Blue Wahoos offense rally as the Ryan Ignoffo triple not only tied things up, but pushed across the go-ahead run to put Pensacola in front 2-1. Not to be outdone, the Smokies responded in their half of the ninth as BJ Murray Jr.'s sacrifice fly brought things back to even and helped send this one into extras.

With neither team cashing during the 10th, it was the Blue Wahoos striking first in the 11th as the Jake Thompson single gave them the lead again, only to watch Felix Stevens tie things back up with a sacrifice fly. Sacrifice flies were the key in extras with both teams picking up another sacrifice fly in the 12th to keep things tied, thus sending the game to the 13th.

It was in that inning when the Blue Wahoos were finally able to deliver the knockout blow as a pair of singles from Grant Richardson and Cody Morissette proved to be the difference in the Smokies' 6-4 loss. Six players had one hit for the Smokies as this was a strange game from the start.

SOUTH BEND CUBS 9 - DAYTON DRAGONS 2

No one is going to deny that the 2025 season has been a struggle for the Cubs, but at the very least, they are starting to play better. Backed by a strong pitching performance and an offense that scored nine runs in the final few innings, it was the Cubs taking the opener 9-2.

Getting the ball for the Cubs was right-hander Connor Schultz, and despite things not getting off to a great start, he gave the Cubs a good outing. Schultz went just four innings, allowing two runs and striking out three, which is all you can ask for from your starter. Both of the runs he allowed came in the first inning when a steal of home gave the Dragons the lead, setting things up for the Anthony Stephan single that made this a 2-0 game.

That would be all the offense for the Dragaons, but with Jose Montero striking out four in five shutout frames, two runs were looking to be enough as the Cubs' offense struggled to get anything going. Then came the sixth, where the Cubs' offense not only awakened but also started to explode, scoring nine times in the next few innings to pull away.

It all started with a four-run sixth inning as Ariel Armas got the scoring started with an RBI double, only to have Rafael Morel give the Cubs the lead for good with his bases-loaded RBI double to make this a 4-2 game.

Morel and Armas bring in a handful of runs to put the Cubs on top!#SBCubs pic.twitter.com/NjR1BDh3m8
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 23, 2025

The Cubs continued to add to their lead in the seventh with an Edgar Alvarez single, making things 5-2, only to have Armas tack on two more with his second double in as many innings.

Leading 7-2 in the eighth, Brian Kalmer continued his recent power surge by going deep for the fourth time this season, all coming this month as the Cubs opened up a 9-2 lead.

Brian Kalmer goes deep for his fourth @hoosierlottery home run of the season! The Cubs now lead 9-2 going into the 9th. #SBCubs pic.twitter.com/lJZ9BJrH1g
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 23, 2025

That would be all the offense for either side as the Cubs kicked off another series with a big win. Armas and Morel led the way at the plate with two hits and three RBIs as they started the offensive binge.

MYRTLE BEACH PELICANS 9 - COLUMBIA FIREFLIES 3

If there is a team that no one wants to see come playoff time, the Myrtle Beach Pelicans could be that team. Not only have they been playing great baseball since the second half, but they are also dominating their opponents, continuing to lead their division.

Tuesday was no different as the Pelicans continued to rely on strong pitching, while a pair of big innings paved the way to their 9-3 win. In what was seen as a bullpen day, the Pelicans didn't need to have their best stuff as a Stone Russell triple put the Fireflies on top 1-0 in the first, only to watch that lead slip away in the blink of an eye.

With one swing of the bat from Owen Ayers, a 1-0 deficit became a 3-1 Pelicans lead as his three-run homer put the Birds on top for good in the first. Russell did his best to keep things close, adding an RBI single in the third to pull Columbia within 3-2, but it was the Pelicans who had the answers, scoring four times in the fifth to break things open 7-2.

A wild pitch brought home the innings' first run with a Ty Southisene double, pushing the lead to 5-2. Then came another Alexey Lumpuy homer capping off the big inning as the Pelicans led 7-2. Southisene would add an RBI groundout in the sixth with Alexis Hernandez picking up a single in the seventh to push the lead to 9-2 before picking up the 9-3 win.