Kellogg Fans Eight In Cubs Triumph
SOUTH BEND – On a night where the Cubs were unable to record a big hit over the middle innings, Tyler Alamo came through for South Bend in a 4-2 win over Lansing at Four Winds Field.
Alamo broke a 2-2 tie in the bottom of the seventh inning with a two-out, two RBI double scoring Donnie Dewees (walk) and Ian Rice (walk) to put South Bend in front 4-2.
The 21-year old first baseman also delivered an RBI single in the first inning to help South Bend take an early 2-0 lead.
Eloy Jimenez started the scoring with a first inning RBI single. Jimenez went 2-for-4 on the night and extended his hitting streak to 14 games.
South Bend starter Ryan Kellogg match a professional career high with eight strikeouts over 6 innings while allowing two runs. Kellogg held a 2-1 lead until allowing a sixth inning solo home run to Lugnuts catcher Ryan Hissey.
Casey Bloomquist (3-1) threw three perfect innings in relief and posted the win.
The night was a productive one for the first place Cubs who gained a game on the second, fourth and fifth place teams in the Eastern Division who all lost. The Cubs will start Saturday with a three game lead over Lake County and West Michigan.
Game two of the four game series is Saturday at 7:05 p.m. Preston Morrison (3-2, 3.96) will pitch for South Bend against Lugnuts ace Jon Harris (3-0, 0.83). Harris over his last five starts has not allowed a run covering 28 innings.