April 10, 2023 – Midwest League (MWL) – South Bend Cubs News Release
Despite winning two Midwest League Championships in the last three seasons, the South Bend Cubs accomplished something on Opening Weekend that no prior Cubs team had done; A 3-0 start to begin the campaign.
Off to the best start since becoming a Chicago Cubs affiliate, South Bend is rolling with the three straight W’s over the Quad Cities River Bandits on the road. What was most impressive was the Cubs resilience and tenacity in the series. South Bend never surrendered the lead in all three games of the weekend slate, winning 5-2, 3-1, and 2-1.
Starting pitching was also fabulous. In the three games, Richard Gallardo, Luke Little, and Brandon Birdsell, did not allow a single run in their stats. Gallardo threw five scoreless on Opening Day, Little added four hitless and shutout frames on Saturday, and in his pro debut, Birdsell did not surrender a hit or run on Sunday.
In the hit department, for the second straight year, Fabian Pertuz clubbed the first home run of the year for South Bend. Last year, it came on Opening Night at Four Winds Field against Quad Cities. And on Saturday, Pertuz did it again with a solo drive.
As the Cubs get set for the home opener Tuesday night at 7:05 PM from Four Winds Field, they’ll go against a familiar foe, the Beloit Sky Carp. Last season, the Cubs went 14-4 against Beloit.
The Sky Carp are now at the helm of veteran MiLB manager Billy Gardner Jr. The son of former Minnesota Twins and Kansas City Royals manager Billy Gardner Sr, the new Beloit skipper is on his third career stop in the Midwest League. He managed the Michigan Battle Cats in 1997 and 1998, and then the Dayton Dragons in 2006. Beloit is off to a 2-1 start after winning their Opening Weekend series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
Players to watch on Beloit…
Khalil Watson, SS: Much like last year, this Beloit Sky Carp team is loaded with young talent that the Miami Marlins have invested in during their rebuild. That starts with 19-year-old shortstop Khalil Watson. As the 16th-overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft, Watson was selected out of Wake Forest High School in North Carolina. His first impression as a pro was a big one, hitting .394 in his first nine games in the Florida Complex League. Last year at Low-A Jupiter, Watson’s average was at .231 and 44 RBI. However, to start this season in his first three ballgames, Watson has been on a terror going 3/7 in the series against the…
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