DAYTON, Ohio – The South Bend Cubs scored seven runs in the sixth inning and went on to defeat the Dayton Dragons 7-2 on Tuesday night. The Cubs have won the first two games of the series that will conclude on Wednesday evening.

The Dragons jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the second inning when Reydel Medina followed a Shane Mardirosian single with an opposite field home run down the left field line. The home run was Medina’s second of the season, both coming within the last week.

The Dragons held that 2-0 lead into the sixth inning as South Bend had collected just two hits over the first five frames against Dragons starting pitcher Jose Lopez. But the Cubs sent 11 batters to the plate in the sixth and took advantage of a costly Dayton error to post a big inning.

Lopez allowed hits to the first four batters in the inning as South Bend scored two runs to tie the game. Manuel Aybar replaced Lopez with runners at second and third and no one out. He retired the first hitter he faced on a soft liner to second base for the first out, then got Josh Silver to hit a slow bouncer to third. Tanner Rahier fielded the ball and threw home, but Dragons catcher Mitch Trees dropped the throw, allowing the third run of the inning to score. After Tyler Alamo’s sacrifice fly made it 4-2, the Cubs took command on a two-run single by Carlos Sepulveda and a wild pitch by Aybar to make it 7-2.

Jose Lopez (4-6) was outstanding over the first five innings but was charged with four runs in the sixth and suffered the loss. His final line showed five innings and four runs allowed (two earned) on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Aybar was charged with three runs in the sixth. Five of the seven runs in the inning were unearned against Dragons pitching.

The Dragons finished with only three hits as two hitting streaks came to an end. Brantley Bell (seven-game streak) and Shed Long (six-games) both went hitless in the game.

The Dragons (17-48) host the Cubs (39-24) on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field at 7:00 p.m.