Roederer hits for cycle as Cubs crush TinCaps 10-4

Fort Wayne, IN: Tuesday night was a special one from Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Indiana. In the series opener between the South Bend Cubs and Fort Wayne TinCaps, the young Cubs stars shined both on the mound and at the plate in a 10-4 victory.

To start, number five overall Chicago Cubs prospect Cole Roederer hit for the first cycle in South Bend Cubs history. Second baseman Delvin Zinn picked up his second five hit game of the season, third baseman Chris Morel went 4/5 with three runs scored, and starter Riley Thompson had his best stuff going with five shutout innings and five strikeouts to earn his third win.
It all began with a red hot start to the game in the top of the 1st inning as South Bend picked up three doubles along with three other base runners to score four runs. Zinn started the game with a line drive double down the left field line off of Fort Wayne righty Gabe Mosser. Shortly later, Roederer smacked his first hit which was a double.
The win was extra sweet for the Cubs as the last time they played at Parkview Field, the TinCaps completed a four-game sweep. Mosser pitched against South Bend on May 22 and tossed six shutout innings. The TinCaps starter made it through 5.1 innings on Tuesday, but surrendered six runs and walked three batters on 80 pitches.
After the four run first inning, the Cubs did not score again until the top of the 6th. But in between, Roederer continued his career night. He singled in the 3rd to get halfway to the cycle.
Before getting hurt in early June, the last full game that Roederer played in was at Parkview Field. In that game, he hit a blast over the right field wall for his second long ball of the year. Tonight, his round tripper came in the top of the 7th on a no doubter over the right-center field wall 407 feet from home plate. His third homer of the season brought him to a triple away from the cycle.
His last at-bat came in the 9th and he made it count. You could tell by his swings that a triple was in his thought-process.
On a two strike pitch, Roederer launched a ball the other way towards left field and watched it drill the left field wall over the head of Dwanya Williams-Sutton. As the ball kicked away from the TinCaps left fielder, Roederer turned on the turbo jets around second base. As the relay throw floated in, Roederer dove into third base safely with his Manager Buddy Bailey beside.
After being ruled safe, Roederer let out a yell and a fist pump as his teammates celebrated in the dugout. The Cubs asked for the baseball to be saved as it was thrown into the third base side dugout. The Cubs number one outfield prospect completed history and became the first South Bend Cub to hit for the cycle.
Other than the Roederer cycle, numerous Cubs combined for season-high and career nights on Tuesday. To say the club started the series in the best way would be an understatement. This was a signature win for Bailey's team.
Oh, by the way, Bailey is now tied for 8th place on the all-time Minor League Manager wins list. He tied Jack Dunn with 2,107 and can pass the former Baltimore Orioles manager with a win tomorrow.
South Bend will be right back at it tomorrow with a 12:05 PM first pitch. Left-hander Brailyn Marquez is the expected starter for the Cubs.