MWL South Bend Cubs

South Bend Hammers Sky Carp Again 10-2 to Split Series

Published on April 16, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release


South Bend, IN - Following their loss to the Beloit Sky Carp on Friday night, the South Bend Cubs were put in a position where they needed to win Saturday and Sunday to at least split the series. With dominant performances at the plate the last two days of the weekend, the Cubs indeed took three wins away from Opening Week at Four Winds Field. On Sunday, they barreled their way to a 10-2 win to take the finale.

Much like Saturday, where the Cubs won 9-1, Sunday began with Beloit having a positive moment in the 1st inning. Yesterday, Dalvy Rosario swung at the first pitch of the game for a single. Today, against Cubs starter Connor Noland, he took the first pitch of the game out of the yard on a solo home run. It was a 1-0 Beloit lead right away.

Things didn't stay that way for very long though. The Cubs immediately answered back as Bradlee Beesley started the bottom half of the 1st with a double, then Yohendrick Pinango walked (more on that later). With two men on, Haydn McGeary pumped in a single to score Beesley, then Casey Optiz drove home Pinango via a RBI sac-fly. It was 2-1 Cubs going to the 2nd.

From that point, Noland settled in. South Bend's Opening Night starter from Tuesday faced the Sky Carp for the second time this week and rolled along to four complete innings with five strikeouts. Through two career pro starts, Noland has worked eight innings with only two runs allowed and 12 strikeouts.

The runs kept on coming for South Bend as they plated four more in the bottom of the 3rd. The big knock came for Opitz who had three RBI before the 3rd inning even ended. Haydn McGeary picked up three total base hits on the day, each being RBI singles. He is up to 11 RBI in nine games with the Cubs.

As mentioned earlier, the big story was Pinango's patience at the plate. Last year, Pinango had 30 total walks in just over 110 games. He already has nine this season, after walking four times today. He also added an RBI single to finish with eight RBI in the series and nine total.

Everything went right for the Cubs including out of the bullpen, with Sam Thoresen earning the win with two innings of one run baseball. Carlos Guzman pitched the final three frames, earning the save and only giving up two hits, with no runs and three strikeouts.

With the win, the Cubs are 6-3 early on the season and are back in first place in the Midwest League West Division. With Beloit losing, they're now a game back of the Cubs. And the Cedar Rapids Kernels were postponed today, so they're now half-a-game back.

South Bend will enjoy an off day Monday before departing on the road to Midland, Michigan to take on the Great Lakes Loons for the first of six games on Tuesday night at 6:05 PM.

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Midwest League Stories from April 16, 2023


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