Ihrig Impresses in South Bend's 6-1 Loss

DAYTON, Ohio - South Bend lefty Tyler Ihrig was stout in relief, but Dayton's fast start held up in a 6-1 win over the Cubs on Friday night at Fifth Third Field in the series opener.

The Dragons (17-18 second half, 56-49 overall) scored three runs in the second, one in the third and two in the fourth to coast past South Bend (16-19 second half, 45-57 overall), which has dropped five in a row. The Cubs have scored five runs during the five-game skid.

South Bend starter James Norwood lasted just 3.1 innings, allowing six runs (five earned) on six hits, two walks, two hit batsmen and three wild pitches. Ihrig followed with 2.2 scoreless frames, surrendering just one hit to go along with four strikeouts.

Dayton starter Jake Paulson stymied the Cubs over seven shutout innings with seven strikeouts.

Cubs third baseman Jesse Hodges (2-for-3) collected a pair of doubles, and right fielder Jeffrey Baez rocketed a solo home run in the eighth. Designated hitter Ian Happ (2-for-4) and catcher Gioskar Amaya (2-for-4) each had a double and a single.

The Dragons loaded the bases with one out in the bottom of the second, and Norwood fired a wild pitch to the backstop, allowing Dayton third baseman Gavin LaValley to score from third and make it 1-0. Later, with runners at the corners, Dragons center fielder Jonathan Reynoso bolted for second, and catcher Gioskar Amaya's throw flew into center field with no one covering the base, and Garrett Boulware scored from third to push the margin to 2-0. No. 9 hitter Luis Gonzalez then supplied an RBI infield single.

Dayton second baseman Cory Thompson began the bottom of the third by clocking a solo home run just above the left-field wall, stretching the lead to 4-0.

In the fourth, Gonzalez reached out to sneak a single through the middle and score Boulware, pushing the gap to 5-0. After Ihrig entered with the bases loaded, Thompson popped a sacrifice fly to shallow right field, scoring Reynoso.

Baez smashed his long ball in the eighth against Dragons reliever Michael Sullivan.

Cubs righty Daniel Lewis tossed a scoreless seventh, and sidewinder Corbin Hoffner added a clean eighth.

South Bend and Dayton meet Saturday at 7:00 p.m. ET at Fifth Third Field in the middle game in the three-game series. Cubs right-hander Jake Stinnett (4.92 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Dragons righty Tyler Mahle (2.41 ERA).