The South Bend Cubs (76-50) notched another series win against the Cedar Rapids Kernels (47-81) on Friday night at Four Winds Field, dominating the game 14-3. The Cubs have won the first four games of this week’s series and now lead the Kernels 11-5 in the season series.
Click here to view Friday’s box score.
South Bend immediately got after Cedar Rapids starting pitcher Merit Jones, who finished the night with five runs allowed in 4.0 innings. In the bottom of the first inning, each of the first five Cubs reached against the right-hander, leading to four runs. First baseman Josiah Hartshorn led off with a double, and left fielder Kade Snell singled ahead of shortstop Angel Cepeda’s RBI single to center. Center fielder Alexey Lumpuy later hooked a two-run double to the right-field corner, and catcher Justin Stransky followed with a sacrifice fly.
The Cubs remained on the attack in the third inning, scoring an additional run to take a 5-0 lead. Third baseman Matt Halbach ripped a single with one out, and Lumpuy pushed him to third with another double to right-center field, continuing his five-hit night. Stransky then contributed another sacrifice fly, plating Halbach and stretching the South Bend lead.
Right-hander Alfredo Romero worked as the starting pitcher for the Cubs, allowing two runs in 3.1 innings. Before the Cubs’ four-run first inning, Romero walked the first two hitters of the game, giving the Kernels an instant scoring threat. However, Romero started a 1-6-3 double play to diminish the trouble, ultimately escaping the half-inning without a run.
The Kernels earned their three runs in the middle innings, pulling back within a 5-3 score. In their two-run fourth frame, shortstop Jose Salas and second baseman Ramiro Dominguez each singled and came around to score. Catcher Eduardo Tait drove in another run in the fifth, drilling a single down the right-field line. Despite the Cedar Rapids rally, left-hander Cole Reynolds pitched well as the first man out of the South Bend bullpen, scattering a single run across 3.1 innings.
The Cubs broke the game open in the seventh, bringing 12 men to the plate and scoring seven runs to take a 12-3 lead. The inning featured five hits and three walks, the biggest blow being a three-run double to right from designated hitter Brennan Hudson. Lumpuy also picked up his fourth hit and third RBI of the night during the sequence, legging out a single on the infield.
South Bend capped off its massive performance in the eighth inning, grabbing two more runs to finalize the score at 14-3. Lumpuy roped an RBI double for run number 13, finishing his night 5-for-5 with 4 RBI. The 14th run came from Stransky, who lofted his third sacrifice fly of the night.
With the series win in hand, the Cubs will play on against the Kernels at 7:05 PM on Saturday, September 5. Left-hander Pierce Coppola is scheduled to start for South Bend against Cedar Rapids righty Justin Mitrovich.