Cubs Sneak Past Dragons in 12 Innings
SOUTH BEND, IN - The South Bend Cubs kept sole possession of first place in the Midwest League's Eastern Division after a 12 inning 4-3 win over the Dayton Dragons at Four Winds Field.
Bryant Flete hit a bases loaded sacrifice fly to right field scoring pinch runner Daniel Spingola from third base to send South Bend to their seventh walk off win of the season.
The victory kept South Bend in first place a game in front of West Michigan and one and a half gamse ahead of Lake County with 12 games to go in the first half.
South Bend had a chance to end the game in the ninth and eleventh innings as they loaded the bases with none out but failed to score in both frames.
Dayton thought they had taken the lead in the top of the tenth. The Dragons had the bases loaded with two outs when James Vasquez hit a line drive that hit pitcher James Norwood in the side. Norwood picked up the ball in front of the mound and threw to first base for the final out of the tenth.
Kyle Miller made his first start of the season for South Bend and picked up a no-decision. Miller allowed four hits and three runs (two earned) over five innings. Miller's first 11 appearances came out of the Cubs bullpen posting an ERA of 1.23.
Norwood (3-1) got the win after throwing two and a third innings of scoreless baseball.
The Cubs trailed 3-0 going to the bottom of the fourth when they got on the board thanks to an RBI ground out by Eddy Martinez who scored Eloy Jimenez (single). Dayton's lead was cut to 3-1.
A two-run seventh tied the game at 3. Bryant Flete's RBI infield single scored Carlos Sepulveda to bring the Cubs to within 3-2. Then Donnie Dewees grounded out sending Martinez home with the tying run.
Game two of the three game series is at Four Wind Field tonight at 7:05. You can hear the game on 96.1fm WSBT Radio beginning with the Jordan Automotive Group Pre Game Show at 6:50. Adbert Alzolay (4-2, 3.72) gets the start on the mound for South Bend.
NOTE: Six South Bend Cubs were named to the Eastern Division's roster for the 2016 Midwest League All Star Game in Cedar Rapids on June 21. In the starting lineup for the East will be second baseman Andrew Ely, third baseman Jesse Hodges plus outfielder Donnie Dewees and Eloy Jimenez. Pitchers Carson Sands and Adbert Alzolay will be in the East's bullpen....South Bend is now 3-1 versus Dayton this season.