South Bend, IN: For Tyler Payne, it was all about staying positive and keeping the right approach for his team to break out of their recent losing streak. After losing four games in a row, the South Bend Cubs beat the Lansing Lugnuts 2-1 to get back in the win
South Bend, IN: For Tyler Payne, it was all about staying positive and keeping the right approach for his team to break out of their recent losing streak. After losing four games in a row, the South Bend Cubs beat the Lansing Lugnuts 2-1 to get back in the win column on Saturday night.
Payne, the elder statesman on the South Bend Cubs roster, knew the Cubs would come around. All they had to do was trust in their game approach. Behind Payne's 1/3 day that included a double down the left field line, the Cubs did all their damage in the 3rd inning.
Payne and Zach Davis both scored in the inning behind a RBI sacrifice fly from Roberto Caro and an RBI single from Jhonny Bethencourt. The run by Davis on Bethencourt's single ended up being the game winning run for the Cubs.
Starting pitching continues to stay consistent for the Cubs so far in this series. After Ricky Tyler Thomas gave up no earned runs in the game yesterday, Javier Assad tossed 95 pitches tonight in his second win of the season. Assad allowed six hits, but no runs. He also struck out seven Lansing hitters. His ERA now drops to just 1.29.
Yapson Gomez came in relief of Assad and allowed Lansing's only run of the game. Brian Glowicki pitched the final two frames to earn his third save of the season. Now only was the pitching clutch, but as was the outfield defense on both sides.
Lansing center fielder Reggie Pruitt made two catches on the run diving back towards the ground. On a day when many balls were hit high into the jet stream, Pruitt stuck with both of them and saved the Lugnuts a couple of runs. For the Cubs, Davis also played gold-glove type defense in center field. He saved the Cubs a run when he crashed towards the center field wall on the run.
Finally for the Cubs, Caro in left field made the game deciding play when he threw out Kacy Clemens at home plate. The Lugnuts already scored one run on the play and Caro gunned down Clemens with the tag applied by catcher Miguel Amaya.
For South Bend, they improve to 7-6 on the season. They will play the rubber match tomorrow against Lansing before heading on a four game road trip to Bowling Green to face the Hot Rods on Monday.
