Ayala Does It All as Cubs Beat TinCaps
Published on June 5, 2017 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Cubs News Release
SOUTH BEND, IN - Though the South Bend Cubs were outhit 8-5, the Chicago Cubs' Midwest League affiliate made the right plays at the right time to win their third consecutive game 3-1 over the Fort Wayne Tincaps in a four game series at Four Winds Field.
Fort Wayne threatened with runners at first and third with two outs in the third inning, but with Jorge Ona at the plate in a 1-1 count, Manuel Rondon earned the strikeout to end the inning keeping the Tincaps at bay.
The Cubs put their first runner in scoring with no outs in the bottom of the third inning as Luis Ayala hit a leadoff double. South Bend's following hitters proceeded to strikeout and pop out to give the Tincaps two outs and a chance to escape without any damage.
Vimael Machin, however, had different ideas as he came through in the clutch with a two-RBI triple to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
The Tincaps followed the South Bend's two run third inning by scoring a run in the top of the fourth. Though Eguy Rosario scored to cut the Cubs' lead in half, Ayala played the ball off the wall brilliantly to set up a throw to second to nab the hustling G.K. Young and keep Fort Wayne from getting anything started.
Ayala then followed up his impressive throw with another double in the fifth inning by hustling hard out of the box and sliding safely head first into second base just before the tag was applied.
Cubs starter, Manuel Rondon finessed his way through 6.0 innings as he held the Fort Wayne offense in-check allowing just one run on five hits while striking out four.
The Tincaps had another offensive chance in the seventh inning after Rondon exited the game. With Jared Cheek on the mound for the Cubs, Fort Wayne hit three consecutive singles to load the bases with one out.
After a mound visit from pitching coach Brian Lawrence, Cheek induced a groundball to South Bend shortstop, Zack Short who turned an inning-ending double play to help Cheek work out of the jam.
In the bottom of the eighth inning, Short hit a leadoff triple and rounded third base on a Tincaps throwing error for an unofficial inside-the-park home run to give the Cubs a 3-1 lead.
In the top of the ninth inning, Wyatt Short came in to nail down his fourth save of the year as the Cubs beat the Tincaps for the third consecutive time. They are now 8-2 against Fort Wayne this season.
AYALA'S IMPRESSIVE SHOWING: While he has not been in the lineup on a consistent basis, and though he has jumped around in the outfield defensively, Luis Ayala shined in tonight's game as he got things done on both sides of the ball.
"I don't feel as comfortable in left field as I do in center or right field, but I'm working on it," Ayala said through translating teammate Alberto Mineo . "I was just trying to get good contact on the fastball, but the doubles help my confidence at the plate."
Overall, Ayala hit two doubles, scored one of the Cubs' three runs, and made a potential run saving play with his good defensive positioning and strong throw in the fourth inning. He is now hitting .308 with five runs scored in 10 games against Fort Wayne
WHAT'S NEXT:
Cubs: With Rondon on the hill tonight, the Cubs are scheduled to send Duncan Robinson to the mound for the final game of the series. The 6'6" righty has been on a hot-streak lately only allowing one run in his last 17 inning pitched. He is 5-1 with a 1.36 ERA over 39.2 innings pitched this season.
Tincaps: The San Diego Padres Midwest League affiliate will send Logan Allen to the bump to face South Bend in game four of the series. In eight games pitched for the Tincaps, Allen is 2-2 with a 1.76 ERA this season.
Midwest League Stories from June 5, 2017
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- Captains, Conner Capel Named Midwest League Player Of the month - Lake County Captains
- Cubs Name Duncan Robinson Minor League Pitcher of May - South Bend Cubs
- Ayala Does It All as Cubs Beat TinCaps - South Bend Cubs
- Robinson Masterful on Mound But Cubs Fall to TinCaps In - South Bend Cubs
- Cubs Sweep TinCaps in Double Header - South Bend Cubs
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