Cubs Use Long Ball To Snap Skid
By Mike Monaco
PEORIA, Ill. — South Bend shortstop Gleyber Torres knocked five hits, including a two-run home run, to lead the Cubs over Peoria, 7-3, on Sunday night at Dozer Park.
South Bend (27-34) socked three home runs to snap its five-game losing skid and force a rubber game with the Chiefs (30-33) on Monday.
Cubs starter Erick Leal allowed three runs in 5.1 innings, surrendering six hits and two walks while fanning five. Left-handed reliever Jordan Minch cleaned up the final 3.2 frames and gave way to only two baserunners.
Torres (5-for-5, one home run, one double, three singles, three RBI) notched the first five-hit game of his career, while right fielder Yasiel Balaguert (3-for-5, one run), second baseman Andrew Ely (2-for-5, one double) and first baseman Jesse Hodges (2-for-4) each posted multi-hit outings.
South Bend loaded the bases in the top of the first inning, but Chiefs starter Matt Pearce induced a 1-2-3 double play to escape the stanza.
Cubs center fielder Rashad Crawford led off the third by cracking a solo home run — his first of the season and just the second of his four-year professional career. Ely followed with a single. Then Torres clubbed a two-run home run, his first long ball of the season and the third of his young career.
But Peoria bounced right back in the bottom of the third, as second baseman Darren Seferina hit a two-run home run of his own to get the Chiefs within one, 3-2.
Torres rapped a one-out single in the fifth and advanced to third on a single by third baseman Jason Vosler. Torres then scored and widened the advantage to 4-2 on a fielder’s choice from Balaguert.
The Chiefs grabbed a run back in the bottom of the fifth when shortstop Andrew Sohn and Seferina led off with back-to-back doubles.
South Bend used the long ball, again, to extend its lead in the eighth. With Balaguert at second, Cubs catcher Cael Brockmeyer scalded a two-run rocket to lift South Bend ahead 6-3. Brockmeyer now leads the team with five round-trippers.
In the top of the ninth inning, Torres punched an RBI double to score Ely and make it a 7-3 lead.
South Bend and Peoria wrap up their three-game series Monday at 8:00 p.m. ET at Dozer Park in Peoria, Illinois. Cubs left-hander Tommy Thorpe (5.04 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Chiefs righty Jhonny Polanco (2.30 ERA).