Velazquez Crushes Walk-Off Homer to Beat Lugnuts 3-2
August 21, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Cubs News Release
South Bend, IN: As a franchise, the South Bend Cubs went without a walk-off home run for all of the 2018 season. This season, they have smacked two. After Brennen Davis did it earlier this year, Nelson Velazquez blasted a solo home run in the bottom of the 9th inning to beat the Lansing Lugnuts 3-2 in the opener of their three-game series.
Wednesday night marked the first time in four games where South Bend did not score first. Cubs starter Zach Mort gave up his only two runs of the night in the top of the 3rd inning when Yorman Rodriguez doubled and Gabriel Moreno picked up an RBI groundout.
The Cubs were quick to answer in the bottom of the 3rd with a run of their own as Fidel Mejia scored after a throwing error was made by Lugnuts shortstop Otto Lopez. After this point, Mort settled in and completed 5.2 innings with four strikeouts.
The bullpen once again gave the Cubs a chance to win the series opener. Eugenio Palma struck out Ryan Gold to end the bottom of the 6th inning. In all, Palma tossed 2.1 shutout frames.
South Bend picked up the tying run in the 8th, but they had to exchange two outs for the run. On a double play ball hit by Clayton Daniel, Rafelin Lorenzo came home to score after he tripled.
To set up the walk-off chance, Brian Glowicki worked a scoreless top of the 9th and the scene was set to go win the big game. Velazquez came up against lefty Marcus Reyes and crushed a baseball over the right field wall and celebration ensued at home plate.
After taking three out of four games from Great Lakes on the road, the Cubs continued their solid play this week and now lead Lansing by three games for the wild card. Bowling Green still possesses their two-game lead over the Cubs for the Eastern Division crown.
The Cubs will have the opportunity to win the series tomorrow night in game two at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Riley Thompson is the expected South Bend starter.
Midwest League Stories from August 21, 2019
- Six-Run Fifth Sparks 'Caps Rally - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Stun Snappers with Six-Run Comeback - Kane County Cougars
- Rattlers Ride Early Lead to 5-2 Win Over Bees - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Early Lead Not Enough as Beloit falls 9-8 - Beloit Sky Carp
- Captains Suffer One-Run Loss in Homecoming - Lake County Captains
- Roberson Sets the Tone in Shutout Win - Clinton LumberKings
- Velazquez Crushes Walk-Off Homer to Beat Lugnuts 3-2 - South Bend Cubs
- Lofstrom, Hernandez Lead Dragons to 6-4 Win - Dayton Dragons
- Brettell Pitches Chiefs to 2-0 Win over Quad Cities - Peoria Chiefs
- Reyes Rips Homer, But 'Caps Fall - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Bandits Blanked 2-0 in First Game of Series at Peoria - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Clinton Dominates Wednesday's Opener - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Camels Fall for First Time - Great Lakes Loons
- Qsar Homers in Hot Rods Third-Straight Win - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Velazquez HR Walks off Lugnuts, 3-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Matt Wallner joins Kernels from Elizabethton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- TinCaps Game Notes: August 21 vs. Bowling Green (Game 126) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
