RESOLVING THE LEDGER
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See the full story · 1 sourcesCHICAGO, ILLINOIS - AUGUST 20: The Chicago Cubs 2025 first round draft pick, Ethan Conrad, visits Wrigley Field before a game against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field on August 20, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Matt Dirksen/Chicago Cubs/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In case you were wondering, Casey Opitz was named the catching coach at the University of Northern Colorado today. Opitz is from Colorado and his brother Shane is the assistant head coach there.
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs were hauled away by the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders (Yankees), 4-3.
Jaxon Wiggins started this game and took the loss. Wiggins gave up three runs on five hits over 3.2 innings. On the positive side, Wiggins struck out five and walked just one. He did hit one batter.
Hobey Milner pitched the fifth inning in a rehab assignment. He faced three batters and all three of them grounded out.
Greg Jones started a rally in the ninth inning that came a run short with a one-out double. Jones went 2 for 3 with the double and a walk.
Ben Cowles doubled home Jones in the ninth. It was Cowles’ second double of the game. He was 2 for 4 with one run scored.
Catcher Ethan Hearn made it three consecutive doubles in the ninth with his first Triple-A hit, driving in Cowles. Hearn went 1 for 4.
Third baseman Owen Miller went 2 for 4.
Josh Fleming allowed one run on one hit over three innings, with that one hit being a home run. But he also made this behind-the-back play.
Josh Fleming what a snag! pic.twitter.com/MIT0EPtQKS
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 29, 2026
Great play by Cowles at short.
BEN COWLES WEB GEM 🤯 pic.twitter.com/G57Gl8wTRi
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 29, 2026
Cowles RBI double in the ninth.
Ben Cowles with an RBI double! pic.twitter.com/Waj9J93BFw
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 29, 2026
Hearn’s first Triple-A hit.
First Triple-A hit and RBI for Ethan Hearn makes it a one run game! pic.twitter.com/3kEUHaruaE
— Iowa Cubs (@IowaCubs) July 29, 2026
Knoxville Smokies
The Knoxville Smokies reeled in the Pensacola Blue Wahoos (Marlins), 4-3.
Dawon Netz handled the first four innings and gave up two runs on just two hits. He did struggle with control as he walked four and hit one batter. Netz struck out five.
Frankie Scalzo Jr. pitched the next two innings, didn’t allow a run and got the win because Netz didn’t go five. Scalzo surrendered just one hit. He struck out two and walked no one.
Marino Santy pitched the ninth and got the save. Santy did issue two walks, but no hits and no runs. Santy struck out two.
The Smokies scored all four of their runs in the first inning and hung on the rest of the way. Left fielder Carter Trice hit a two-run double. He was 1 for 4 and scored later in the inning on a single by second baseman Alex Madera .
Madera went 1 for 3.
Third baseman Jefferson Rojas was 2 for 4 with a double. He scored the first run of the game.
Here are the first-inning highlights.
Hits were contagious in the first 🤝 pic.twitter.com/9LxZwDXhTi
— Knoxville Smokies (@smokiesbaseball) July 29, 2026
South Bend Cubs
The South Bend Cubs court-martialed the Lake County Captains (Guardians), 8-6.
Starter Jostin Florentino went 3.2 innings and gave up three runs on four hits. Two of those hits were solo home runs in the first and fourth innings. Florentino walked four and struck out two.
JP Wheat pitched the bottom of the sixth inning and gave up one run on one hit and two walks. But he got the win because the Cubs scored five runs in the top of the seventh. Wheat struck out one.
Ethan Flanagan tossed the final three innings for the save. He allowed two runs on three hits. Flanagan walked two, hit one and struck out five.
Center fielder Kane Kepley hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning. It was his sixth home run of the year. Kepley went 1 for 4 with two walks. One of those walks came with the bases loaded in the seventh inning, so he had three total RBI. Kepley scored twice.
DH Josiah Hartshorn hit a three-run triple in the seventh inning. He went 2 for 4 with the triple and two walks. Hartshorn drove in three runs and scored once.
Left fielder Kade Snell was 1 for 3 with a walk and was hit by a pitch twice. Snell also stole one base.
Kepley’s home run.
Aye, aye, Kep-tain! 🫡 @HoosierLottery Home Run | #SBCubs pic.twitter.com/ljUURiCFj8
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 29, 2026
Hartshorn’s bases-loaded triple.
Josiah Hartshorn clears the deck! #SBCubs pic.twitter.com/c8OF5Q7Myj
— South Bend Cubs (@SBCubs) July 29, 2026
Myrtle Beach Pelicans
The Myrtle Beach Pelicans kenneled the Charleston RiverDogs (Rays), 7-5 .
Anhuar Garcia started and went four innings, surrendering two runs on three hits. Garcia struck out three and walked one.
Julio Valdez relieved Garcia in the fifth and got the win in his first game with the Pelicans. Valdez allowed just one run on one hit over three innings. Valdez walked two and struck out two.
Right fielder Eli Lovich hit a two-run home run in the third inning, his ninth on the season. Lovich went 2 for 3 with a walk and three total runs batted in.
In the seventh inning, left fielder Ethan Conrad cranked a two-run home run. It was his second home run with the Birds and third overall. Conrad went 2 for 4 with the home run. He drove home three and scored twice.
Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy was 3 for 4 with a double and three runs scored.
Shortstop Alexis Hernandez went 2 for 4 with an RBI double in the seventh inning. Hernandez also scored one run.
RBI single for Conrad.
Birds take the lead!! pic.twitter.com/v7hPL80dqt
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 29, 2026
Lovich hits a home run.
LOVICH LONG BALL! 💥 pic.twitter.com/SFsTzpiSCe
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 29, 2026
Alexis Hernandez’s RBI double.
Plus one for the Birds! pic.twitter.com/0JGuEnF5ig
— Myrtle Beach Pelicans (@Pelicanbaseball) July 30, 2026
Conrad homers to dead center.
HELLO ETHAN CONRAD! 😮💨 pic.twitter.com/QuLVc5...
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