Cubs whitewash Lugnuts 6-0 to even series

South Bend, IN: South Bend Cubs pitching has once again dominated a game and led to a victory for the team. This time, it was right hander Riley Thompson with a five-inning shutout effort. The former Louisville Cardinal struck out five batters and earned his first Midwest League win in a 6-0 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts.

The bats came alive for the Cubs early, scoring five runs in the first three innings off of Lansing starter Fitz Stadler. Both Thompson and Stadler worked a clean first inning, but the tall and lanky Stadler ran into trouble in the bottom of the 3^rd. South Bend put together a four run frame for a big lead. Four hits and a walk led to the four runs, including back-to-back doubles from Nelson Velazquez and Andy Weber. 
Velazquez had his best night of the 2019 season and went 3/4 with two runs and an RBI. South Bend added one more run in the bottom of the 6^th with a D.J. Artis double. Artis ripped a liner down the right field line and scored Eric Gonzalez. 
The bullpen took it from there. After Thompson departed, Jeffrey Passantino worked three shutout innings in a piggyback appearance. Riley McCauley pitched the 9^th and added a strikeout of his own. This was the first time the combination of Thompson, Passantino, and McCauley won a game for South Bend.
With the win, the Cubs are back at .500 with a 5-5 record. They will go for the series win against the Lugnuts tomorrow afternoon at 2:05 p.m. Left-hander Faustino Carrera will start for South Bend.