Arias Shines Early, but Sky Carp Fly Away with 5-1 Final
Beloit, WI - Things could not have started better for South Bend Cubs right-hander Michael Arias in his Midwest League debut against the Beloit Sky Carp on Friday night. The hard-throwing right-hander, who originally began his career as a shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, worked three perfect innings
Beloit, WI - Things could not have started better for South Bend Cubs right-hander Michael Arias in his Midwest League debut against the Beloit Sky Carp on Friday night. The hard-throwing right-hander, who originally began his career as a shortstop with the Toronto Blue Jays organization, worked three perfect innings to begin the night. Beloit’s bats came to life though mid-game and they finished off a 5-1 victory in Game 3 of the series.
Arias, who was promoted from Low-A Myrtle Beach earlier in the week, struck out the side, all swinging, in the bottom of the 1st inning. But even before he threw his first pitch of the game, South Bend had the lead.
The Cubs opened the scoring for a second straight day of the series, after they laid four runs on Beloit yesterday. South Bend received a base hit from Kevin Made, and he was immediately brought in via an RBI double by Kevin Alcántara. ‘The Jaguar’ has been superb in the month of June, and closed this month batting .306 with four home runs and 18 RBI. 10 of his 16 walks on the season were also taken in June.
Up 1-0, Arias took it from there. He punched out Tanner Allen, Kahlil Watson, and Jacob Berry on 10 pitches in the 1st inning. Arias also sent down the Beloit lineup in order with three perfect innings to open the game.
The right-hander surrendered two hits in the 4th, but no runs. The 5th is when things ran into trouble. As Beloit plated four runs, including two on a home run by Osiris Johnson.
Arias made it through 4.1 innings and gave up the four runs. But it was a strong debut as he did not walk a batter, and finished with seven strikeouts.
Beloit added one more run in the bottom of the 7th, and that cushion would be all they needed. Indianapolis native Jared Poland worked a career high seven innings for the Sky Carp in a winning effort.
With the loss, the Cubs are 2-4 in the second half, and will now turn to righty Connor Noland on the mound for Game 4 of the series on Friday night. Heading into 4th of July weekend, the Cubs will finish this series in Beloit on Monday, before heading home to begin a six-game set against Peoria on Tuesday.
First pitch against the Sky Carp on Friday night is set for 7:05 PM EST.