Hearn Shines At and Behind Plate As Cubs Power Past Chiefs 9-3

Peoria, IL - In a series where the South Bend Cubs need success and wins, they’re off to the best possible start through Wednesday night. After beating the Peoria Chiefs on Tuesday, South Bend did it again in Game 2 of the series by a final of 9-3. The Cubs smacked 13 base hits, after having 15 in the series opener, and Lance Rymel’s team gained more ground in a busy and packed Midwest League West Division.

South Bend sent right-hander Brody McCullough to the mound in his fourth High-A start. McCullough was in search of a little revenge after taking a loss against the Chiefs earlier in July. Through four innings, McCullough faced the minimum, and he set up the Cubs bats for another strong early-game showing.

Facing right-hander Trent Baker, the Cubs last saw the Peoria hurler on July 4 at Four Winds Field. Baker had an interesting game that night. He went five innings, struck out 10, and didn’t walk anybody. But he gave up four runs, all in the same inning.

Wednesday night at Dozer Park was very similar. The Cubs laid a strong inning on Baker in the 2nd, as Moises Ballesteros started the frame with a double. Felix Stevens extended his hitting streak to 6 games with a single, and Luis Verdugo reached on an error. The next batter was Christian Franklin, who was on a run of three straight games with a homer. Franklin smacked a ball to deep center field, missing a home run by just about a foot off the top of the wall, but drove in a run.

The Cubs would score four total runs in the 2nd, and the last two came courtesy of a two-run single from Ethan Hearn. The Cubs catcher Hearn had a fabulous night, picking up two base hits, walking once, driving in the two runs, and also catching two Peoria Chiefs runners stealing second base.

For South Bend, the hits just kept coming with a run in the 5th, two in the 6th, and two more in the 8th. On a hot and humid night, the ball was really flying, and James Triantos clubbed his third home run with the Cubs to bring their run total to nine.

Cubs pitching kept the Chiefs’ bats quiet. Peoria scored all three of their runs dispersed separately through three innings.

Out of the bullpen, Stephen Gonsalves worked 1.2 innings and only gave up a run. Adam Laskey surrendered an unearned run in two innings with three strikeouts and no walks. Yovanny Cruz got the final three outs, and got a 4-6-3 double play from his defense to end the game.

With the win, the Cubs remain three backs back of a playoff spot due to the Beloit Sky Carp winning today. But with Peoria losing, South Bend is two games back of the Chiefs for second place.

Game 3 of the series will follow on Thursday night at 7:35 PM. Right-hander Cade Horton will get the ball and start for South Bend at Dozer Park.