South Bend Sweeps Saturday Doubleheader
South Bend, IN – The South Bend Cubs pitched their way to a doubleheader sweep Saturday, as they knocked off the Chiefs by scores of 3-2 and 4-0. South Bend will now have an opportunity to sweep the six-game set tomorrow. The five-game losing streak is the longest skid of
South Bend, IN – The South Bend Cubs pitched their way to a doubleheader sweep Saturday, as they knocked off the Chiefs by scores of 3-2 and 4-0. South Bend will now have an opportunity to sweep the six-game set tomorrow. The five-game losing streak is the longest skid of the year for Peoria.
In game one, the Chiefs scored a pair of runs in the top of third to jump out to an early lead. A throwing error by Cubs starter Jordan Wicks plated a run to make it 1-0. Later, an RBI groundout from Jacob Buchberger made it 2-0.
In the home half of the third, South Bend manufactured a run. After working a two-out walk, Scott McKeon stole second to move into scoring position. Then, Bradlee Beesley blooped a single into right to get South Bend on the board, 2-1.
In the fourth, more bad luck followed for the Chiefs. With two outs in the inning, Fabian Pertuz tripled off the glove of Matt Chamberlain to drive in Matt Mervis to tie the game. Then, a fielding error by the first baseman Buchberger allowed Pertuz to trot home and give the Cubs a 3-2 lead.
Peoria placed the tying-run in scoring position in the fifth and sixth innings but could not record the clutch hit in a 3-2 loss. Peoria starter Logan Gragg took the loss despite limiting South Bend to three hits in five frames.
In game two, Michael McGreevy, the Midwest League Pitcher of the Month for April, took the mound looking to end the Peoria losing slide.
Through two frames, McGreevy faced the minimum and appeared to be on his game. In the third, however, South Bend racked up four hits and scored twice to take a 2-0 lead.
The Peoria offense was stymied by South Bend starter Max Bain, who allowed just one hit in his four innings of work.
In the bottom of the fifth, South Bend racked up four more hits against McGreevy, all consecutively, to bring in two more runs and extend the lead to 4-0. McGreevy surrendered a career-high 11 hits in the nightcap. While the right-hander did not issue a free pass, he only recorded two strikeouts over six innings.
Sunday’s contest will feature a rematch of Tuesday’s pitching battle. Gordon Graceffo, who threw six shutout against South Bend in the series opener, will go for Peoria. Left-hander DJ Herz will start for the Cubs. First pitch is set for 2:05 EST/1:05 CST.