Cubs spoil Spraker's return, 5-3

LANSING, Mich. - Miguel Amaya broke an eighth-inning tie with an RBI single and the South Bend Cubs (11-8, 45-43) spoiled Graham Spraker 's Midwest League return with a 5-3 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (11-8, 54-35) on Monday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Samad Taylor went 2-for-4 with a double and a home run for the Lugnuts, who finished their six-game homestand with a 1-5 record.

Starting pitcher Spraker made his first appearance with the Nuts since May 11th, holding the Cubs scoreless in the first two innings, allowing a Zach Davis RBI double in the third inning and then recording two outs and giving up two more runs in the fourth, departing with the score tied at 3-3.

Brody Rodning blanked the Cubs through the sixth inning and Dany Jimenez tossed a scoreless seventh to maintain the tie.

In the eighth, however, Amaya's blooper off Jimenez (Loss, 4-2) found grass in front of left fielder Freddy Rodriguez , bringing in Rafael Narea for a 4-3 South Bend lead. After a walk to Michael Cruz loaded the bases, former Michigan State Spartan Brandon Hughes increased the lead to 5-3 with a double-play grounder.

The final 14 Lugnuts batters were set down in order, finished off by Enrique De Los Rios (Win, 1-1) handling perfect seventh and eighth innings and Ben Hecht (Save, 4) closing the door in the ninth.

Following a league-wide off day on Tuesday, the Nuts head on the road for a six-game trip at the Burlington Bees and Clinton LumberKings.

The next Lugnuts home game is a Winning Wednesday on July 18th against the Peoria Chiefs, the start of a six-game homestand. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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