Velazquez helps Cubs outslug Lugnuts, split series
LANSING, Mich. – Nelson Velazquez homered twice and Tyler Durna hit a grand slam, helping the South Bend Cubs (14-15) clinch a six-game series split with a 12-8 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (14-16) on Sunday at Jackson® Field™. The Lugnuts finished a 12-game, 13-day homestand with a 5-7 record,
LANSING, Mich. – Nelson Velazquez homered twice and Tyler Durna hit a grand slam, helping the South Bend Cubs (14-15) clinch a six-game series split with a 12-8 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (14-16) on Sunday at Jackson® Field™.
The Lugnuts finished a 12-game, 13-day homestand with a 5-7 record, losing four of six to Great Lakes before halving the series with the Cubs, their fourth series split of the season.
Lansing starter Stevie Emanuels held the Cubs scoreless for the first two innings before allowing five runs in the third, capped by a Velazquez two-run homer. Michael Danielak entered for the fourth, only to see Tyler Durna swat a grand slam for a 9-0 Cubs lead, and the visitors appeared to be on their way to an easy win.
The Lugnuts’ offense, which had scored 17 runs and nine runs in the previous two games, was held hitless through the first five innings by Cubs starter Derek Casey before breaking through. Jake Suddleson’s RBI single and Drew Millas’s RBI triple chipped the deficit to 9-2 in the sixth, followed by the Lugnuts answering a pair of runs by the Cubs in the top of the seventh with two of their own in the bottom half, staying within 11-4.
After a Velazquez home run off Dalton Sawyer in the eighth increased the Cubs’ lead to 12-4, the Nuts plated four runs in the eighth inning against José Albertos, including an Elvis Peralta, Jr. RBI double and a Max Schuemann two-run double, to draw within four runs.
But Cubs reliever Graham Lawson thwarted any further thoughts of a comeback, setting down the final four batters in order.
The Lugnuts committed four errors in the game, leading seven of South Bend’s 12 runs to be unearned.
First baseman Jordan Díaz returned from playing with Team Colombia in Olympic qualifying, batting second and finishing 1-for-5 with a double and a run scored.
Shortstop Max Schuemann went 2-for-5 with a single, double, two runs scored and two runs batted in, extending his on-base streak to 24 games.
The Lugnuts enjoy a league-wide off day on Monday before beginning a six-game series Tuesday at West Michigan. The next Nuts homestand will run from June 15-20 against the Great Lakes Loons. To purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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