The South Bend Cubs fell to Kane County 2-3 in the series opener on July 10th. The game didn’t start off well when the Cougar’s designated hitter Eddie Hernandez hit a triple and the cubs’ left fielder Levi Jordan completed a full flip trying to catch it. Jordan was escorted off the field limping and was replaced in the batting order by Gustavo Polanco. After the ball was thrown away by Cubs shortstop Andy Weber later that inning, Hernandez scored.
Fortunately, the cubs were able to tie up the game with a whopping homer by the Cubs’ DH Luke Reynolds. In the top of the fourth, the Cougars were able to score their game-winning runs off a double followed by a homer hit by Zack Shannon. Cubs pitcher Brandon Marquez was able to finish up the rest of that inning safely. However, in the fifth, Marquez walked Buddy Kennedy with one out, he stole second base, and Marquez struck out Dominic Fletcher on a wild pitch, advancing Fletcher to first and Kennedy to third, also ending the day for himself. The Cubs’ bullpen was able to shut the Cougars down the rest of the game.
The Cubs were almost able to tie up the game in the bottom of the eighth. Two doubles in a row with one out scored a run for the Cubs, but Chester Pimentel was able to shut the Cubs down for the rest of the game, earning the save.
Write on Sports – Anton Alstrom