First Inning Propels South Bend to 12-5 Win

Cubs score seven in first, even series with Dayton

By Mike Monaco

September 3, 2015

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - South Bend struck for seven runs in the first inning and thrashed Dayton, 12-5, in Thursday night's middle game at Four Winds Field.

The Cubs (34-32 second half, 63-70 overall) led 9-2 after three innings and evened the series with the Dragons (30-35 second half, 69-66 overall) at a game apiece.

South Bend starter Jake Stinnett struck out seven, walked one and allowed five runs on five hits in 6.2 innings in his final start of the season. In his last seven starts, Stinnett has struck out 40 and walked just seven.

Cubs second baseman Angelo Amendolare (2-for-4, one double, three RBI, two walks), left fielder Kevin Encarnacion (2-for-4, two runs, one home run), first baseman David Bote (2-for-5, two RBI, one double) and third baseman Jesse Hodges (2-for-4, one run, two RBI) spearheaded the offense. As a team, the Cubs drew 13 walks.

With two outs in the top of the first, Dayton cleanup man Paul Kronenfeld teed off on a two-run home run to right field.

Bote roped a two-run, two-out single into left-center field to tie the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the first. Hodges then supplied an RBI single to plate Bote and push South Bend ahead 3-2. Cubs catcher Erick Castillo then coaxed a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk-the third in the opening frame by Dragons starter Ty Boyles. Amendolare, who singled and scored to start the inning, blasted a three-run double to center field to make it 7-2 and chase Boyles.

In the second, Hodges singled through the left side to plate Bote and make it 8-2.

Encarnacion skied a solo home run to right-center field in the third to stretch the margin to 9-2.

Dayton catcher Maikel Lopez and second baseman Shed Long tagged back-to-back solo home runs in the fifth to pull the Dragons within five, 9-4.

Dragons shortstop Luis Gonzalez struck and RBI single with two outs in the seventh.

The Cubs pushed the lead to 10-5 in the seventh when Hodges scored from third on a wild pitch.

South Bend drew five walks in the eighth, the last two reeling in Happ and Charcer Burks, respectively, to build a 12-5 lead.

South Bend and Dayton conclude their three-game series Friday at 7:35 p.m. ET at Four Winds Field. Cubs right-hander Zach Hedges (4.25 ERA) is scheduled to oppose Dragons righty Tyler Mahle (2.39 ERA).