Loons Rally To Walk Off
MIDLAND, Mich. – South Bend snuck ahead of Great Lakes in the top of the ninth to take a one-run lead, but the Loons scored two runs with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to complete the walk-off win, 3-2, over the Cubs and complete the sweep Thursday night at Dow Diamond.
For the first 26 innings of the series, South Bend mustered just two runs against Great Lakes. But in the top of the ninth, the Cubs scored the go-ahead run, without recording a hit.
Yet with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Loons first baseman Justin Chigbogu delivered a two-out RBI double to plate third baseman Matt Beaty and tie the game, 2-2. Chigbogu then scored the game-winning run on an RBI single up the middle off the bat of right fielder Alex Santana.
South Bend (16-18 second half, 45-56 overall) scored just three runs in the three-game sweep at the hands of Great Lakes (15-19 second half, 53-49 overall).
With the game tied at one, Cubs left fielder David Bote coaxed a four-pitch walk to start the top of the ninth and jogged to second as the ball skittered to the backstop. Catcher Erick Castillo then dropped down a sacrifice bunt, but Loons reliever Scott Griggs misfired to first, allowing Bote to score and handing South Bend an ephemeral 2-1 lead.
Cubs reliever Alexander Santana took the loss in the bottom of the ninth.
Cubs starter Tommy Thorpe worked six innings and surrendered just one run. The lefty was touched for five hits, struck out three and walked two. In his three starts since being activated from the disabled list earlier this month, Thorpe has only allowed three runs in 17 innings.
South Bend reliever Jordan Minch turned in two scoreless innings and struck out the side in the eighth.
Great Lakes starter Tommy Bergjans gave up one run in 5.2 innings, striking out six and walking one.
South Bend center fielder Rashad Crawford (2-for-3, one walk, two singles, three stolen bases) and shortstop Gleyber Torres (2-for-5, one stolen base) each notched multi-hit outings.
With two outs in the top of the second, Cubs third baseman Jesse Hodges teed off on a solo home run to deep center field, pushing South Bend ahead 1-0. The long ball was Hodges’ fifth of the season and first since June 21 against West Michigan. Hodges was away from the team for two weeks in July while playing for Team Canada in the Pan American Games.
The Loons knotted the game, 1-1, in the bottom of the third. Left fielder Federico Celli ripped a triple off the right-field wall and scored on an RBI single by leadoff man Michael Ahmed.
The Cubs loaded the bases in the top of the seventh against Great Lakes reliever Cameron Palmer, but the right-hander dug out of a 3-1 count and struck out Torres, Palmer’s third punchout of the inning.
In the top of the eighth, Crawford singled, stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch, but Palmer again skirted danger to maintain the tie.
South Bend visits Dayton on Friday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Fifth Third Field to begin a three-game series. Dragons righty Jake Paulson (2.96 ERA) will oppose a TBA Cubs starter.