MWL South Bend Cubs

Cubs Blank Sky Carp 8-0 to Even Series

Published on April 12, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release


South Bend, IN - After giving up eight runs in the series opener last night, the South Bend Cubs fired back with eight of their own on Wednesday night and shutout the Beloit Sky Carp 8-0. South Bend was able to even the series behind strong at-bats early and late in the game, and because Kohl Franklin dominated in his 2023 season debut, tossing four shutout innings with seven strikeouts.

Franklin's masterfulness was on display from the start as he struck out the side of Sky Carp on all breaking balls. As he posted his first zero, the Cubs were almost immediately on the board in the bottom of the 1st inning, thanks to Yohendrick Pinango. The 20-year-old power hitting lefty doubled home Bradlee Beesley and the Cubs had a quick lead.

Pinango's laced line drive would be the eventual game winning hit, but the insurance runs came just as fast as Casey Opitz cranked a home run deep over the right-center field wall in the bottom of the 2nd. It was Opitz's fourth career home run, with three of them coming against Beloit. South Bend led 3-0 as Franklin continued to carve the zone.

The strikeouts continued and piled up, and Franklin's four pitch mix was on display all evening. He struck out six of the first seven batters, and continued the strong work by the South Bend rotation this year.

Now that the five man rotation has had their first full go around, Franklin, Richard Gallardo, Luke Little, Brandon Birdsell, and Connor Noland have posted 20 innings, while giving up one run combined.

As the night went along, the bats powered through the Sky Carp pitching staff as Pinango added another RBI in the 5th, then in the 8th, the Cubs officially put it out of reach. A four run bottom of the 8th inning saw RBI's from Haydn McGeary, Fabian Pertuz, and Jacob Wetzel.

Out of the bullpen, Joe Nahas earned the win and put together three scoreless innings. Carlos Guzman then made his Four Winds Field debut and got the final six outs to complete the whitewash of Beloit.

With the win, the Cubs are off to a 4-1 start, and can take the lead in the series Thursday night at 7:05 PM. Righty Richard Gallardo will take the ball for the Cubs as he enters start number two of the year. In his season debut on Opening Day, Gallardo worked five scoreless innings.

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