Cubs Earn Massive Series Win against Loons in 4-3 Finale
Published on August 20, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Cubs News Release
Midland, MI: The South Bend Cubs finished off one of their biggest wins of the year against the Great Lakes Loons from Dow Diamond on Tuesday night. In a 4-3 nail-biter final, South Bend squeezed out the finale win and took the series three games out of four from the club with the Midwest's Leagues best record.
For the fourth straight time in the series, the Cubs scored first. Buddy Bailey's team was able to put almost immediate pressure on the Loons in each game of the four game set. Tonight, it was 19-year-old center fielder Cole Roederer driving in Andy Weber in the 4th inning to lead 1-0. This gave Cubs starter Faustino Carrera some important run support.
At first, it was a pitcher's duel developing for the series finale. Carrera and Great Lakes starter Ryan Pepiot both worked three shutout innings to start the game. Overall, Carrera worked another quality start. The lefty finished with six innings of two run baseball and three strikeouts to earn his eighth win.
The Cubs expanded their lead and plated two runs in the top of the 6th inning with base hits from Nelson Velazquez and Jake Slaughter. The former LSU Tiger Slaughter has reached base safely in all 17 games he has played with South Bend. Velazquez continued his hot stretch after hitting a three run home run earlier in the series.
The Loons had their opportunities to take the lead back, however. The Los Angeles Dodgers affiliates provided some late inning drama against Ivan Medina in the bottom of the 8th. Great Lakes put the go ahead run on base, but Chris Roller grounded into an inning-ending double play to spoil the opportunity.
In the bottom of the 9th, Sean Barry worked a 1-2-3 inning to earn the save. With the win, the Cubs improve their overall record to 69-56 and lead the Eastern Division wild card by two games over Lansing. South Bend is two games behind Bowling Green for first place.
With this series now in the rear view mirror, the Cubs will begin a key three-game series tomorrow night against Lansing at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Zach Mort is the expected starter for South Bend.
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