Cubs Spoil Lacy’s Much Anticipated Debut in 4-3 Win

SOUTH BEND, IN – Despite being held to two hits on Wednesday night, the South Bend Cubs scraped out a hard fought 4-3 victory to move to 2-0 on the season. The Cubs registered their 11th straight win dating back to last season.

It was a double dip of debuts on the mound as the number four overall pick from the 2020 draft, Asa Lacy, took the mound for the River Bandits in his first appearance in professional baseball, and Chris Kachmar toed the rubber for the Cubs in his South Bend debut.

Kachmar struggled a bit early on allowing the leadoff man to reach in each of the first three innings. But it was the defense behind him that ultimately led to the one run he allowed in his 3.2 innings of work. Jeison Guzman hit a fly ball out to left-center that Cole Roederer might’ve lost in the sun, as it fell in and out of the center fielder's glove. Guzman advanced to second on a flyout to right field and scored the game's first run on a line drive single to center that Roederer laid out for but couldn’t haul in.

South Bend rallied in the next inning.

Lacy, who struck out the first three batters he faced, throwing 11 of his first 12 pitches for strikes in the minor leagues, came apart in the third inning. The Texas A&M product struck out Jacob Olson to start the inning but allowed the next six batters to reach safely, five via walks. The southpaw looked shaky out of the stretch, allowing Delvin Zinn to steal second and third, eventually tying up the game on a Roederer single. Roederer skied a flyball out to the gap in right-center and a miscommunication between John Rave and Seuly Matias led to the ball dropping for a bizarre RBI-single.

With runners at first and second and one out, Chase Strumpf, Tyler Durna and Cam Balego all walked consecutively to bring in two runs and give the Cubs a 3-1 lead. That forced Chris Widger to make the move to the bullpen and call upon Drew Parrish in relief. Parrish retired both batters he faced to end the third inning but a sacrifice fly to left from Bryce Windham gave the Cubs a 4-1 edge.

Tanner Jesson-Dalton came in to replace Kachmar, allowing two runs in his 2.2 innings, getting burned by a two-out, two-RBI single in the sixth from Guzman.

South Bend led 4-3 halfway through the sixth and neither offense plated another run. Parrish showcased pinpoint command out of the pen for Quad Cities going 4.1 innings allowing just one hit, no runs and striking out six while walking just one.

Brandon Hughes (1-0) earned the win throwing 1.2 scoreless frames out of the bullpen, and the second round pick Burl Carraway picked up the save (1) in his professional debut with a clean three-up, three-down ninth.

The South Bend Cubs continue their six-game series vs Quad Cities tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. Tickets for tomorrow’s game and every South Bend Cubs home game can be purchased by clicking here.