Early Mistakes Doom Cubs Again In 8-6 Loss

W: Biasi (1-0)

L: Casey (0-1)

SV: Lukas (1)

BOX SCORE

SOUTH BEND, IN – The Quad Cities River Bandits (2-2) scored six runs in the first three innings and led the entire way Friday night, evening up the series 2-2 as they knocked off the South Bend Cubs (2-2) at Four Winds Field, 8-6.

Jimmy Govern reached on an error by third baseman Chase Strumpf to start the game and came around to score the game's first run on a double off the bat of Tyler Gentry two batters later. They piled on with three more runs the next inning as Derek Casey walked two batters, hit a batter, and Strumpf picked up another error, his third in the last seven innings defensively.

It was another rough night for the Cubs' pitching staff as they combined to walk seven batters tonight, hitting that total for the third time in four games this series.

The Cubs responded with two runs in the second inning. Bryce Windham continue to hit the ball to the opposite field ripping a single down the line in left and scoring on a Jacob Olson double, Olson's first hit of the 2021 season. Delvin Zinn dropped down a bunt for a single that moved Olson to third, an important 90 feet because he would come in to score on a passed ball to make it a 4-2 game.

This game was decided in the middle innings with the River Bandits plating four runs in innings 3-6 and the Cubs getting blanked on the scoreboard over those same four innings by Quad Cities' relievers Jonah Dipoto and Dante Biasi.

For the second consecutive game South Bend scored a pair of runs in the seventh and the eighth inning to make things close late. Cole Roderer and Strumpf hit back-to-back doubles in the seventh and then Strumpf, who came into tonight's game leading the league in runs scored, touched the plate after a Cam Balego single. And in the eighth it was three straight singles from Olson, Zinn and newly signed Reivaj Garcia that led to two more runs to make it an 8-6 ballgame.

Cayne Ueckert (2 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K) and Burl Carraway (1 IP, O H, O R, 0 BB, K) kept the game within reach combining to toss a scoreless seventh, eighth, and ninth. But South Bend went down in order to end the game, with starter Derek Casey (3 IP, 5 H, 6 R, 4 ER, 4 BB, 3 K) taking the loss in his first start of the season.

Zinn (2-3, R, BB) stole his fourth and fifth base of the year, remaining perfect swiping bags on the season; Olson (2-4, 2 R, RBI) had easily his best game of the series; and Roederer (1-2, R, RBI, 2 BB) looked good in his return after exiting last night's game after being hit by a pitch.

South Bend Cubs Manager Michael Ryan was ejected in the second inning after disputing a close play at first base.

Next up: RHP Grant Gambrell (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Ryan Jensen (0-0, 0.00 ERA).

The South Bend Cubs continue their six-game series vs Quad Cities tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. and gates open at 2 p.m. Tickets for tomorrow’s game and every South Bend Cubs home game can be purchased by clicking here.