MWL South Bend Cubs

Wicks, Devers, and Nunez Combine for Shutout as Cubs Whitewash Wisconsin 3-0

Published on July 7, 2022 under Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release


South Bend, IN - In their fastest game of the 2022 season so far, the South Bend Cubs picked up a shutout over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers and defeated the Midwest League affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers 3-0. South Bend, who is now 9-2 in the second half of the campaign, is back in first place in the West Division tied with Wisconsin.

The Timber Rattlers won game one of the six-game set on Monday, and after an off day on Tuesday, the Cubs came back looking energized and ready to roll on Wednesday. Jordan Wicks got the start for South Bend, and he was locked in from the start. Forcing weak contact off Wisconsin bats, Wicks cruised through five innings of work.

Wicks, the 2021 Chicago Cubs 1st round pick, finished his night with six strikeouts and just one walk. Just before the first half ended, Wicks still had not put away a win in professional baseball. But now that he is going longer into games, he has won three of his last four starts.

The road to the 'W' was not guaranteed for Wicks though. His adversary tonight, Israel Puello, was pitching in his second Midwest League game. In his debut, he earned the victory in a game versus the West Division first half champ, Cedar Rapids.

Puello was good, but Wicks was better. The deciding blow in the contest came on Yohendrick Pinango's 11th home run of the season in the bottom of the 4th inning. Pinango, South Bend's home run and RBI leader, provided all the offense that the Cubs would need on Wednesday night.

In front of the televised Marquee Sports Network crowd, Pinango also drove in two more runs in the bottom of the 8th. A drilled double up the right field side gave the Cubs some major insurance heading towards the 9th inning.

Continuing the shutout bid behind Wicks was Luis Devers. The Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitcher of the Month for May was recently called up to South Bend, and he showed why he came with such rave reviews from Myrtle Beach. At this moment, the Cubs now have the last two Chicago Cubs Minor League Pitchers of the Month on their roster. Daniel Palencia was given the award for the month of June earlier today.

Devers punched out three in three scoreless innings, and that set us up for the 9th. On for the final three outs was hard-throwing righty Eduarniel Nunez. The Timber Rattlers managed a single against him, but he closed out the game and preserved the whitewash.

With the victory, the Cubs can now take the series lead on Thursday night with another triumph over Wisconsin. Kohl Franklin is the expected starter for South Bend as the two clubs continue the six-gamer in the 574.

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