Cubs Quieted by Jacobs in 9-0 Loss to Whitecaps
The South Bend Cubs (66-46) dropped a 9-0 result to the West Michigan Whitecaps (54-60) on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. West Michigan hit three home runs in the game and got 5.1 scoreless innings from its starting pitcher, No. 7 Detroit Tigers prospect Ben Jacobs. Click here to
The South Bend Cubs (66-46) dropped a 9-0 result to the West Michigan Whitecaps (54-60) on Wednesday night at Four Winds Field. West Michigan hit three home runs in the game and got 5.1 scoreless innings from its starting pitcher, No. 7 Detroit Tigers prospect Ben Jacobs.
Click here to view Wednesday’s box score.
Right-hander Braylon Myers started the game for South Bend and largely struggled, although he bookended his outing with 1-2-3 innings in the first and the fourth. In between, he allowed six runs, five of them earned. An error from South Bend shortstop Angel Cepeda opened the door for a two-run second inning; right fielder Stephen Hrustich took advantage with an RBI double to left-center, and designated hitter Cristian Santana followed with a sacrifice fly.
West Michigan’s biggest inning of the night was the four-run third, which started and ended with a home run. Center fielder Jackson Strong led off with a long solo shot to right, his 14th round-tripped of the year. Catcher Edian Espinal later rolled an RBI single into right and scored on third baseman Clayton Campbell’s ninth home run of the year, a two-run bullet to left.
The next few innings featured a pair of South Bend Cubs pitching debuts. Right-hander Luke Alwood, the Cubs’ 10th-round draft pick this year, handled the fifth. West Michigan picked up another two runs in that frame, as Campbell completed a four-RBI night with a two-run double to dead center. Right-hander Edwardo Melendez debuted after Alwood, striking out five in 3.0 strong innings. Shortstop Bryce Rainer got him for a solo home run in the seventh, becoming the first player in West Michigan franchise history to go deep in five consecutive games.
Meantime, the Whitecaps blanked the Cubs, thanks largely to the efforts of Ben Jacobs. The left-hander notched six strikeouts in 5.1 scoreless innings, earning the win. Designated hitter Kade Snell continued his productive series with a good night against Jacobs, smacking a leadoff triple in the second inning and a single in the fourth.
With the series tied at one, the Cubs and Whitecaps will square off next at 7:05 PM on Thursday, August 20. Right-hander Nazier Mule is scheduled to start for South Bend against West Michigan lefty Win Scott.