Down on Cubs Farm: South Bend wins Midwest League Title |
For the first time since 2005, the South Bend Cubs are champions of the Midwest League as they capped off their series with a 5-0 victory over Clinton and 3-0 series sweep. Led by dominating pitching and a relentless offense all playoffs long, the Cubs did something not many teams can say they have accomplished as they swept all three of their opponents for a perfect 7-0 Playoff mark. Couple that with how they finished the regular season and the Cubs won 12 of the teams final 13 games overall leading to this title.
SOUTH BEND CUBS 5 – Clinton LumberKings 0: Led by #13 prospect Riley Thompson, the Cubs were able to silence Clinton as the LumberKings had no chance in this one. Looking to rebound from an ok outing in his only other postseason start, Thompson saved the best game of his life for the final game of the season. In five innings, not only did Thompson not allow a hit, but he was perfect by allowing no walks and striking out a career-high ten batters. South Bend was able to give him enough support early before adding on late for the win. After a scoreless first inning, the Cubs offense came to life in the second as they managed to push across the winning runs in that frame. With two outs in the inning, Nelson Velazquez kept the South Bend frame alive as his double set the offense up for a potential go-ahead run. That is precisely what Levi Jordan had in mind as he connected for his first postseason homer and a second homer for the Cubs as they raced out to another early lead 2-0. That was all the offense until the fifth inning as both pitchers appeared to be in a groove early. With Thompson dealing for seven strikeouts through four, the Cubs offense was looking for more support in the fifth inning. Look no further than the top of the order as a leadoff Clayton Daniel walk was followed by an Andy Weber homer and 4-0 South Bend lead. Thompson finished his outing in the bottom half of the fifth by striking out the side as he departed with 10 K’s through five perfect innings of work. Clinton was finally able to get a hit in the bottom of the sixth when Davis Bradshaw was able to connect for the two-out single off the new pitcher Fauris Guerrero. Another two-out single in the seventh from the LumberKings was the last of the offense as those were the lone base runners Clinton would but on base. South Bend capped off their fantastic playoff run with another run in the ninth with Weber coming through with an RBI single to make it a 5-0 game. Brian Glowicki once again finished things off in the bottom of the ninth for the Cubs as they completed yet another sweep to bring home their first Midwest League Championship since 2005. The Cubs offense benefitted from everyone stepping up during the postseason as it was Weber’s turn to that in this one. Not only was he tied for the team lead with two hits but was responsible for three RBI’s also. Velazquez also led the team with two hits, while Jordan delivered the other two RBI’s. Jake Slaughter and Cole Roederer were the lone Cubs without a hit. Following Thompson on the mound, the trio of Guerrero, Glowicki and Eugenio Palma were just as strong as they yielded only two hits to go with four strikeouts as the staff struck out 14 men without allowing a walk in the win. Last night the @SBCubs won the 2019 Midwest League Championship. We're going to go celebrate now. More photos and videos to come over the next few days. #EverybodyIn #CubsWin #FlyTheW #RaiseTheTrophy pic.twitter.com/TTZv2QTrWX South Bend Cubs Are Champions!!!! pic.twitter.com/sF5rj3o5hC Introducing your 2019 Midwest League Champions???? pic.twitter.com/pIxPp032sz Big smiles!#CubsWin #MadeItCount pic.twitter.com/jGyxhgx2xw
The Cubs finished the playoffs a perfect 7-0. Hear what made this team special: https://t.co/YZInTz9nOU pic.twitter.com/l62XBpO0t8
