Cubs fall in rubber match 3-2 to Clinton

South Bend, IN: The South Bend Cubs were neck-and-neck with the Clinton LumberKings all weekend from Four Winds Field. They came up just short in the final game of the home stand and lost 3-2 in the rubber match to the LumberKings. 

Getting on the board first with an RBI single from Michael Cruz in the bottom of the 1^st inning, the Cubs picked up three quick hits off of Clinton starter Tommy Romero. Filiere scored to make the game 1-0. 
Cubs starter Rollie Lacy cruised through the first two innings but ran into trouble in the top of the 3^rd when Johnny Adams cleared the bases on a line shot down the left field line. Adams gave the LumberKings the 2-1 lead. 
But again, the Cubs answered. 
In the bottom of the 4^th, Cruz reached base again and Chris Singleton singled him in to tie the game 2-2. Much like game one where the LumberKings won in extra innings, South Bend did not back down to the first place team from the west. 
South Bend's bullpen again was strong on Saturday night after tossing a combined 4.1 innings through the game. Jose Albertos took the loss to bring his record to 0-4 despite only giving up one run. Albertos ran into trouble in the top of the 7^th, where Clinton loaded the bases. Albertos was pulled for lefty Yapson Gomez.
Gomez's job? To get one out. Dimas Ojeda came to the plate. Manager Jimmy Gonzalez played the lefty-lefty matchup at the plate. Gomez won the battle as on the first pitch, Ojeda grounded back to the mound. Gomez fielded and threw to first to force Clinton to leave the bases loaded. 
South Bend was retired in order from innings six through eight, however. In the bottom of the 9^th, with their last opportunity, Rafael Narea walked against lefty Matt Clancy to start the inning. Narea made it all the way to third after a sacrifice bunt from Yeiler Peguero and a wild pitch. 
With the tying run 90 feet away, Singleton struck out and Zach Davis grounded out to end the game. Clancy and the LumberKings held on to win the game 3-2 and grabbed their 19^th win of the season. With the loss, the Cubs fall to 14-18. 
After the off day tomorrow, the Cubs will head out on a nine game road trip on Monday to face both the Lake County Captains and Fort Wayne TinCaps. South Bend will play two doubleheaders in their series against the Captains. Overall, it will be a six game series between Lake County and South Bend. First pitch on Monday is scheduled for 5:00 p.m.