South Bend, IN:
The Great Lakes Loons (5-14) lost the opener of a 3-game road series 5-2 to the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs) at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, IN tonight.
Loons starter Melvin Jimenez gave up a run in the bottom of the first on a lead-off triple to South Bend LF Roberto Caro, who was driven in on a sac fly RBI off the bat of SS Jhonny Bethencourt, before giving up a solo home run to catcher Miguel Amaya (3) for a 2-0 Cubs lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.
Jimenez (0-3, 8.49 ERA) was tagged with his third loss of the season after giving up the 2-runs on 3-hits and 3-walks, with 1-strikeout through 4-innings.
Great Lakes reliever Leo Crawford replaced Jimenez and was good throughout the fifth and sixth, but gave up a 1-out single to Cub's RF Brandon Hughes, before CF Chris Singleton reached on an infield throwing error, which allowed Hughes to score for a 3-0 South Bend lead in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Bethencourt then ripped a 1-out single off Crawford, who was forced to leave the game with an injured hand.
Andre Scrubb replaced Crawford and gave up a single to Cubs third baseman Austin Filiere, who advanced to second on a throwing error, moving Bethencourt to third, before first baseman Tyler Payne singled to drive in Bethencourt and Filiere for a 4-0 Cub's lead in the bottom of the eighth inning.
Both runs (1 in the seventh and 1 in the eighth) were unearned for Crawford (2.84 ERA) who allowed 3-hits through 3 1/3 innings before his injury, while the final run was also unearned for Scrubb (2.00 ERA) who allowed 2-hits through 2/3 of an inning.
The Loons started to build a 2-out rally in the top of the ninth when LF Carlos Rincon doubled and third baseman Jared Walker followed with a double to drive in Rincon with 2-outs, before Walker was driven in on an RBI-single off the bat of second baseman Marcus Chiu to cut the South Bend lead to 5-2 as catcher Gersel Pitre followed with a single, however, the rally would come to an end when CF Brayan Morales was called out on strikes to end the game.
Great Lakes will look to rebound in game two at 7:05 pm back here at Four Winds Field at Coveleski Stadium in South Bend, IN tomorrow night.
Jason Marcoux
