Roederer's multi-home run performance fuels 8-1 Cubs win

South Bend, IN: The South Bend Cubs kept their hot streak rolling on Thursday night and beat the Lansing Lugnuts 8-1 to extend their wild card lead to four games. The Lugnuts, who have been right on the Cubs tail for much of the second half, have now lost the first two of the three-game series. 

Thursday's offensive outburst was fueled by center fielder Cole Roederer, who smacked his second multi-home run game of the season. Roederer's two round-trippers were both crushed over the right field wall. With his family in the ballpark from California, the 19-year-old delivered in front of the energized crowd. 
The Cubs got off to a blazing start against Lansing starter Cobi Johnson. The Midwest League All-Star made it through just a third of an inning and exited with five runs allowed. The tall right-hander gave up Roederer's first home run of the night. 
The immediate run support assisted Cubs starter Riley Thompson. Pitching for the first time in 12 days, Thompson showed no signs of rust and fired five shutout innings with three strikeouts. He earned his 8^th win and is now tied for the team lead with Faustino Carrera. 
Elsewhere at the plate, Andy Weber laced a double down the right field line for his 59^th RBI of the season. Jake Slaughter belted his first Midwest League home run in the 5^th, and Roederer drove his second home run of the game out of the park in the 7^th.
Out of the bullpen, Fauris Guerrero worked three scoreless innings. Riley McCauley allowed a run in the top of the 9^th, but closed out the 8-1 win to end game two.
With the victory, the Cubs remain two games back of Bowling Green for first place in the Eastern Division. They will have the opportunity to sweep Lansing tomorrow with first pitch at 7:05 PM. Right-hander Brendan King is the expected starter for South Bend.