MWL South Bend Cubs

Cubs Barrel Three Homers and Power Past River Bandits 6-2

Published on July 23, 2022 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release


South Bend, IN - After falling in the series opener on Friday night, the South Bend Cubs fought back and slugged their way to a 6-2 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits to tie the series and force a rubber match tomorrow afternoon. In the victory, the Cubs slammed three home runs, and got a dynamite pitching performance from Luis Devers on the mound.

Devers made his first career start at Four Winds Field on Saturday after starting for the first time against the Peoria Chiefs on the road last week. He had pitched in Downtown South Bend before, but in a relief role. From the start, Devers forced weak contact and missed bats left and right with his sinking fastball and changeup combination.

His breeze of a start also included a four-pitch inning in the top of the 4th. Devers hit two batters, and walked just one. But in six innings, he did not allow a hit and had two punchouts.

The crafty right-hander put himself in line for the victory along with some big days at the plate for Owen Caissie, Jake Washer, and Pete Crow-Armstrong. Caissie had a three-hit night and brought in his first RBI in the bottom of the 1st inning on a bouncing single into right field.

In the bottom of the 4th, Caissie's bat came alive again when he crushed a solo home run over the bridge beyond the right-center field wall, extending the lead to 2-0. The next batter was Jake Washer, and he joined the party with another solo shot against Quad Cities righty William Fleming. The back-to-back homers gave the Cubs a commanding lead.

Devers would continue his quick-paced work and only needed 62 pitches to fire the six no-hit frames. South Bend's lead climbed to 6-0 when Jake Washer smashed a two-run single in the bottom of the 5th, and Crow-Armstrong lifted a ball out of the yard for a solo home run in the 6th.

Out of the bullpen, Michael McAvene was the first man out of the bullpen. The River Bandits designated hitter was the one who ended the no-hit bid with a single in the 7th. McAvene responded well and finished off two scoreless innings.

As the game went to the 9th, Quad Cities also ended the chance at a shutout as they plated a pair of runs, but Sheldon Reed got the final three outs and kept the Cubs in sole possession of first place in the West Division.

With the win, South Bend's lead in the West is now at 3.5 games as the game tonight between the Beloit Sky Carp and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers was postponed. The Cubs can win the series tomorrow afternoon at 2:05 PM as they send right-hander Kohl Franklin to the mound.

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Midwest League Stories from July 23, 2022


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