Extra-Base Hits Carry Cubs To 5-3 Win

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Cubs cranked six extra-base hits, scored in each of the first three innings and topped Lansing, 5-3, on Tuesday at a chilly Four Winds Field.

South Bend shortstop Gleyber Torres (one double), second baseman Jason Vosler (two doubles), first baseman Yasiel Balaguert (two doubles) and right fielder Jeffrey Baez (one triple) powered the offense.

"The offense is just pretty hot right now, swinging good bats," Vosler said. "That's just what you expect when you're swinging good."

South Bend (17-15) pitching did not allow a run from the fourth through eighth innings. Cubs starting pitcher Jeremy Null (4-0) allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings, scattering nine hits, walking none and fanning four. Null's league-leading ERA rose from 0.59 to 0.74. Right-hander Ryan McNeil handled the seventh and eighth, and Jordan Minch earned the save in the ninth.

With the win, South Bend pulled even with Lansing in the standings. Dayton, which plays tonight at Great Lakes, sits at 17-14. Bowling Green leads the Eastern Division at 19-12.

The Lugnuts jumped out to an early lead against Null, as leadoff hitter Anthony Alford doubled and then scored when No. 3 hitter J.D. Davis clubbed a run-scoring two-bagger off the left-center-field wall. The tally ended Null's streak of consecutive scoreless innings at 22.

South Bend climbed right back with two doubles of its own in the bottom of the first. Vosler roped one to the right-field corner, and Balaguert reeled him in by launching a towering wall-ball to left field.

The Cubs jumped ahead in the second when Baez beat out a potential double-play ball, stole second, moved to third on the throwing error by the Lansing catcher and jogged home on a wild pitch.

Davis reached on an error in the third and scored all the way from first on an RBI double from Lansing cleanup hitter Rowdy Tellez, pushing the Lugnuts even 2-2.

Torres and Vosler smacked back-to-back doubles to start the third, the second of which scored Torres and lifted South Bend to a 3-2 lead.

South Bend left the bases loaded in the fourth inning, as Lugnuts left-handed reliever Colton Turner stranded the inherited runners after he replaced Lansing starter Jesus Tinoco.

The Cubs made it 4-2 in the fifth after Balaguert started the frame with a double and scored on a Lansing error. They tacked on one more in the eighth when center fielder Rashad Crawford floated a run-scoring single to center field.

The Lugnuts snatched a run in the ninth after loading the bases and knocking home a tally with a double-play ball.

South Bend and Lansing meet for their third tilt Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. ET. Cubs right-hander Erick Leal (3-0, 2.45 ERA) is set to oppose Lugnuts lefty Shane Dawson (3-2, 2.89 ERA).