Cubs Even Series, Albeit Wrobleski Throwing an Immaculate Inning

MIDLAND, Mich. – A late Great Lakes Loons (6-7) rally was truncated by the South Bend Cubs (8-5), who plated three in the top of the ninth, on their way to a 7-3 win on a 57-degree Friday night at Dow Diamond.

It was a pitcher’s duel early with 11 combined strikeouts, through the first three innings. Justin Wrobleski was tagged early, an RBI double by Haydn McGeary in the first. With two outs, the left-hander finished the opening inning with a three-pitch strikeout. He carried that into his next inning and threw an immaculate inning. The first for a Loon since J.D. Underwood in 2015, the 2021 21st-rounder then struck out the first batter he faced in the third on three pitches, marking five consecutive three-pitch strikeouts.

Brandon Birdsell was cerebral for the Cubs, retiring 12 of 13 batters faced. The lone runner on a walk, the right-hander threw 51 pitches in four hitless innings.

South Bend added two off Wrobleski in the top of the fourth, McGeary and Purtuz, both singled to put two on. Wrobleski sat down the next two with strikeouts, but Ethan Hearn would plate the runners with a double. The 22-year-old would K his eighth batter and finish the fourth strong. He has the team’s best for strikeouts by a starter in a game.

Orlando Ortiz worked the next four frames and permitted just one run on a sacrifice fly in the fifth. The right-hander struck out two.

Great Lakes would get a leadoff batter on for the first time in the seventh, a single from Yeiner Fernandez. With one out, Great Lakes had runners on the corners following a Taylor Young base knock. Griffin Lockwood Powell, who had the only Loons hit through the first six, came through again driving in Fernandez on a single to right.

The Cubs elected to stay with Frankie Scalzo Jr., for the eighth inning, with a 4-1 lead. Dalton Rushing reached to begin the eighth, on a dropped third strike. That set up Damon Keith, who belted on out of the ballpark 426 feet to left field to make it a one-run game. Keith now has three homers, the team lead.

Franklin De La Paz got the ninth for Great Lakes but would not finish the inning. Yohendrick Pinango put the dagger in with a single down the right-field line scoring two runners who reached on a hit by pitch and walk. A third run came off a fielder’s choice. Benony Robles would acquire the final out.

In the bottom of the ninth, Griffin Lockwood-Powell amassed his third hit but that was it for the Loons with 8-9-1 set down in order.

Great Lakes and South Bend play in the day for the first time this series tomorrow Saturday, April 22nd at Dow Diamond. The first pitch is at 1:05.

It is Earth Day and the Loons present Grow Your Own Bat Day. The first 200 fans to sign up with the Little Forks Conservancy and the Midland Conservation District on-site will receive a free sugar maple tree sapling to plant at their home.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.