Cubs Cough up Early Lead in Series-Tying 6-4 Loss
Published on August 20, 2025 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release
South Bend, IN - After walking off the series opener, the South Bend Cubs (50-65) dropped another close game to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (65-51) on Wednesday at Four Winds Field. In their 6-4 victory, the Kernels overcame a 3-0 deficit and didn't strike out until the ninth inning on offense.
Like they did on Tuesday night, the Cubs scored first early in game two, plating three runs in the second inning. Left fielder Kade Snell doubled with nobody out, setting up two runners in scoring position for designated hitter Miguel Pabon, who singled home the opening run. Second baseman Alexis Hernandez later came up with the bases loaded and two outs, crushing the ball in his first Four Winds Field at-bat. His two-run double banged off the wall in left-center field, pushing the Cubs into a 3-0 lead.
Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Jacob Kisting would keep the Cubs right there, retiring seven consecutive hitters after the Hernandez double. Kisting ultimately completed four innings, striking out three and allowing just the three runs before handing things over to his bullpen.
Right-hander Kevin Valdez started for South Bend, working through a solid first five innings. He opened his night efficiently, using only 35 pitches in his first three scoreless frames. Valdez hit a speed bump in the fourth, though, loading the bases with nobody out on an error, a single, and a walk. He nearly escaped without any damage, getting a lineout double play hit straight to shortstop Cristian Hernandez near second base. However, after Valdez walked another with two outs to reload the bases, catcher Poncho Ruiz punished him with a two-run single.
Protecting a 3-2 lead, Valdez breezed through a 1-2-3 fifth inning before the wheels fell off in the sixth. Each of the first three Kernels reached base, loading the bases again for left fielder Misael Urbina. Urbina, who earlier had hit into the lineout double play, dribbled a slow roller in front of the plate. Coming down from the mound, Valdez barehanded the ball and attempted to make an off-balance feed home, but he threw it wide to bring in two runs. Right fielder Kyle Hess followed with a long sacrifice fly, putting the Kernels ahead 5-3 and forcing the Cubs to their bullpen.
Right-hander Kenyi Perez relieved Valdez and fought his command as he finished the sixth inning, reloading the bases on a hit by pitch and a walk. Perez then issued another free pass, bringing home a sixth Cedar Rapids run. However, he and the Cubs salvaged some momentum, exiting the inning on a 6-4-3 double play that brothers Cristian and Alexis Hernandez turned.
With the Cubs trailing 6-3, five-year Major League reliever Eli Morgan made his rehab assignment debut for South Bend in the seventh. It went as planned, as Morgan set down the Kernels in order with a trio of groundouts. Lefty Marino Santy followed with two scoreless innings, leaving the bases loaded in the ninth to keep the Cubs in it.
On offense, the Cubs struggled to find much of an opportunity against the Cedar Rapids bullpen, as long reliever Matt Gabbert allowed just two singles between innings five and seven. They made a move in the eighth, though, chasing Gabbert and bringing the tying run to the plate on a lasered RBI double from Cristian Hernandez. Right-hander Ruddy Gomez checked in for Gabbert and shut down the threat, inducing a groundout from Armas and striking out Snell. Gomez would go on to post a zero in the ninth, earning his third High-A save of the season.
Game three of the South Bend-Cedar Rapids series is scheduled for 7:05 PM on Thursday. Right-hander Nazier Mulé is set to make his first High-A start for the Cubs against Kernels righty Jose Olivares.
Midwest League Stories from August 20, 2025
- TinCaps Drop Pitchers' Duel in Series Opener - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Chiefs Stranded Late, Dragons Prevail 2-1 - Peoria Chiefs
- Bullpen Spotless Despite Bandits' Loss to Loons - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Jorge's Catch Saves Game, Dragons Win 2-1 - Dayton Dragons
- Rattlers Bounce Back with Win at Beloit - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Tabeling and Auger's Pitching Gem Powers Picantes to 2-1 Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Sky Carp Rally Falls Short - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kernels Top Cubs 6-4, Snap Eight Game Road Losing Streak - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- 'Caps Walk-Off Lugs, 2-1 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cubs Cough up Early Lead in Series-Tying 6-4 Loss - South Bend Cubs
- Whitecaps Walk off Lugnuts in Thriller - Lansing Lugnuts
- Montero Placed on IL - Lansing Lugnuts
- Chicago Cubs RHP Eli Morgan Expected to Pitch for South Bend Cubs on Rehab Assignment - South Bend Cubs
- TinCaps Game Information: August 20 at Lake County Captains (Guardians Affiliate) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Wednesday (7:05 PM vs Peoria) - Dayton Dragons
- Figueroa Homers Twice, Bandits Blast Loons in Series-Opener - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Dragons Roll Chiefs Tuesday - Peoria Chiefs
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
