SOUTH BEND – The South Bend Cubs are now tied with the Dayton Dragons for the top spot in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division after 4-2 win.

The Cubs took a one run lead in the first inning off Zack Short’s first-pitch home run, (the second first pitch homer for the Sacred Heart alumni this home stand).

“I try to hit the baseball as hard as possible,” Short said. “[After hitting the home run] I try to picture the pitch again, but as soon as I cross home plate I focus on the next pitch, cheer my teammates on, and go out there to make plays on defense.”

Since moving to the leadoff spot, Short is hitting .333 for South Bend with two home runs and five RBI’s.

With the first inning home run, South Bend has now scored at least one run in the first two innings of four out of their last five games.

Tyler Payne extended the Cubs’ lead over the Dragons with a third inning solo shot, his first of the season. Payne then struck again in the bottom of the fifth inning with a RBI single to score Luis Ayala, who also hit a RBI single that inning to put the Cubs on top 4-0.

With the win, the Cubs dethroned Dayton as the leader of the Eastern Division in the Midwest League. Though South Bend failed to score a run in their first three games of the season, they have now scored 64 runs in the last 12 games and have won four straight games at Four Winds Field to tie their longest winning-streak of the season.

South Bend’s starting pitcher Jose Paulino was brilliant only allowing one run in six innings pitched. Keeping his pitch-count low, Paulino threw 68 pitches before being taken out of the game after six innings in favor of reliever Kyle Miller.

In 3.0 innings pitched, Miller allowed one run on two hits. As a starter in 2016, Miller went 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA in nine games started for South Bend.

Scheduled to start for the Cubs tomorrow is Tyson Miller. The 6’5″ right-hander is 0-1 with a 2.45 ERA in three games started for South Bend this season. He will oppose the Cincinnati Reds’ 2015 second-round draft pick Tony Santillan. First pitch between the Cubs and Dragons is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field.