Big nights from Morel and Daniel lead to 5-1 Cubs win

Comstock Park, MI: The South Bend Cubs finished off a series split against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday night from Fifth Third Ballpark with a 5-1 win in the finale. In total, this has been a four game series against West Michigan with two games in South Bend and two games in Comstock Park.

The night started with lefty Faustino Carrera pitching another quality start to lead South Bend. The 20-year-old southpaw has been as reliable as they come in the rotation this season and put together another dominant performance on Friday with six innings of one run baseball. He also tied a career high with seven strikeouts.
After quickly going up 2-0 last night, the Cubs offense started the night out front again tonight with a solo blast from third baseman Chris Morel. Morel, who now leads the team with six home runs, hit a line drive dart over the left field wall in possibly the hardest hit ball by a South Bend Cub this season.
West Michigan tied it in the next half inning at 1-1, but Carrera then settled in and kept the Whitecaps off the board.
Not only did Morel have the tying RBI, but also the game winning hit that came in the top of the 4th off of West Michigan starter Chance Kirby. On a hard hit ground ball to the hole on the left side, the ball snuck under the glove of shortstop Wenceel Perez for a base hit. As the ball slowly rolled into left field, Fidel Mejia came around to score and made it 2-1.
South Bend added a run in the 5th and two in the 7th all thanks to returning second baseman Clayton Daniel. Daniel, who finished the season with South Bend last year, was just sent down from Double-A Tennessee. He picked up a RBI double in the 5th, and two RBI in the 7th. It was his first three RBI game.
Carrera earned the win for his fifth of the season, and the Cubs improved to 45-38 on the year with a 8-7 second half record.
The club will now head back on the road to face the Dayton Dragons for the next three days. Cam Sanders is the expected starter for the Cubs in game one against Dayton.