Cubs Clinch Playoff Spot With Win
SOUTH BEND – Finally, the South Bend Cubs can breathe a sigh of relief.
After hovering over the target for a couple days, the Cubs finally poached its target, grabbing one of the playoff spots from the Midwest League Eastern division with a 3-1 win Sunday over the Lake County Captains.
South Bend and Lake County were in a showdown for one of the two guaranteed spots to the postseason, the Captains coming into the day a half-game back of the Cubs and West Michigan in the standings. With the win, South Bend took the division title at 41-28, and despite losing it last two and five of its last 10, West Michigan got into the playoff round with its 39-28 record. Lake County wrapped up the first half 40-30.
Eloy Jimenez was the offensive hero for the Cubs on Sunday, ripping a two-run double to deep center in the sixth inning. The Cubs got all three of its runs in the sixth.
Carlos Sepulveda opened the scoring for the Cubs in the inning with an RBI double, scoring Josh Silver, who opened the inning with a bunt single.
Kyle Miller took the help and ran with it, working seven innings of four-hit, five-strikeout ball for his second win of the year. Pedro Araujo earned his second save of the weekend and the season with a two-inning closer.
Nathan Lukes had the lone RBI for Lake County with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
South Bend will send six All-Stars to the Midwest League All-Star Game Tuesday night at Cedar Rapids for a 7:05 p.m. Central Time showcase.
The Cubs will pick up in the second half with a series at Dayton starting Thursday night at 7 p.m.