Cease leaves, Lugnuts feast in 6-4 win

DH Ridge Smith went 3-for-4 with three runs batted in, leading the Lugnuts' late surge. (Tyler Marcotte)

By Jesse Goldberg-Strassler

June 30, 2017

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - For five innings, top Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Dylan Cease showed his quality. Then he departed, and the Lansing Lugnuts (3-6, 40-35) responded with a 6-4 victory over the South Bend Cubs (1-8, 40-38), 6-4, on Friday night at Four Winds Field.Luis Ayala 's two-run single had

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - For five innings, top Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Dylan Cease showed his quality. Then he departed, and the Lansing Lugnuts (3-6, 40-35) responded with a 6-4 victory over the South Bend Cubs (1-8, 40-38), 6-4, on Friday night at Four Winds Field.

Luis Ayala 's two-run single had staked the Cubs to a 2-0 lead behind Cease, who struck out six in an impressive showing, including Bo Bichette twice.

But Tyler Peyton(Loss, 2-2) relieved Cease to start the sixth and promptly allowed three hits and three runs within a four-batter span, including a Ridge Smith two-run single that gave the Lugnuts a 3-2 lead.

The Lugs added three more runs in the eighth inning against Peyton, with Smith adding another RBI single, building a 6-2 lead.

In all, the Lugnuts collected 11 hits and six runs (four earned) without a strikeout against Peyton, compared to three hits and no runs against Cease.

Lansing starter Andy Ravel (Win, 5-2) pitched seven strong innings, allowing solely Ayala's two-run single in the fourth.

Juliandry Higuera gave up two runs in the eighth before a pair of sparkling plays by Bichette at shortstop ended the threat.

Geno Encina (Save, 2) pitched around a single and a walk in a scoreless ninth.

Designated hitter Smith's 3-for-4, 3-RBI performance led the offense, raising his batting average from .214 to .250. Vladimir Guerrero, Jr. added three hits in five at-bats. Bichette finished 1-for-5, leaving his MiLB-leading batting average at .395.

The Lugnuts' defense turned four double plays alongside three outfield assists, including two by right fielder Edward Olivares and one at the plate by left fielder Rodrigo Orozco . Olivares leads Midwest League outfielders with 12 assists and five double plays.

Right-hander Mike Ellenbest (3-5, 6.96) starts the second game of the four-game series at 7:05 p.m. Saturday, taking on Cubs right-hander Duncan Robinson (5-5, 1.90).

The Lugnuts return to Michigan's state capital on Tuesday for special 4th of July LAFCU Fireworks. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
# # #