For the second time within a week, I saw the South Bend Cubs play a game on the road. This time it was Beloit, the home to the Sky Carp (Marlins). I’ve already opined that the players may prefer the now established 6-game series, but I don’t think it benefits the fans.

The six-game series really doesn’t feel right and by the sixth game the players are tired and rarely spend more than a few minutes on the field before the game. This isn’t especially good for autograph collectors and fans that like to connect with the players before the game. Beloit only opens the gates 60 minutes before first pitch.

The Cubs trotted out Brandon Birdsell, a 23-year-old, 2022, 5th round pick against, long time Sky Carp, Zach King. During their pregame, the Beloit PA mentioned that Birdsell was pitching with a sizzling 0.73 ERA. It’s actually kind of neat when the home team previews the upcoming game.

For the most part, Birdsell relied on a fastball that hovered between 94-96mph. I think he may have touched 98 once or twice. After striking out the leadoff hitter, Dalvy Rosario, second baseman Kahlil Watson smoked a homer (giving Beloit a lead they’d never relinquish. Birdsell escaped further damage until he surrendered another run in the 4th. He struck out 6 in four innings of work,

Photo: Brandon Birdsell fell to 1-1 on the season.

The 20-year-old Watson is the Marlins #13 rated prospect and their 2021, 1st round pick. He’s one of 10, 2021 draft picks on the Beloit roster. He went 2-4 with that solo homer and some nice plays in the field.

Khalil Watson getting ready to apply the tag to a sliding Christian Franklin. This was the second of two South Bend baserunners that Joe Mack would throw out in the game.

During King’s 6 innings of shutout ball, he was never really threatened. It helped that two runners were eradicated by Mack’s strong arm behind the plate. Franklin was 1-2 with a double and two walks and eventually scored on a Scott McKeon single in the 7th. The Cubs scored their only other run on a James Triantos, 8th inning leadoff homer.

The Marlins prospects had a much better afternoon. The aforementioned Mack, a left-handed hitting, 20-year-old, 2021 draft pick went 3-4 with a double, 2RBI and run scored.

The #6 prospect, Joe Mack.

Neither bullpen was effective, but the Cubs crew was wilder with 3 very wild pitches which only added to the silliness on the basepaths. Sky Carp second baseman and #7 prospect, Yiddi Cappi was 1-2 with a walk, two stolen bases and two runs scored. The 20-year-old Cuban is 6’3 but only weighs 175lbs. He looks taller and skinnier though.

Sky Carp third baseman, Jacob Barry’s path to Beloit may be the least direct of the prospects, but he’s the most advanced. After a year at the U of A, he moved to LSU with his head coach. He was selected by the Marlins with the #6 overall pick in the 2022 draft and is currently ranked #3 in the organization. He looked very comfortable in the clean-up spot (1-3 with a double and run scored).

I’d like to say that the difference in the game was speed and baserunning, but it was also South Bend’s inability to get the timely hit. They left 9 men on base and couldn’t score when catcher Ethan Hearn led off the top of the 9th with a triple.

South Bend went to reliever Eduardinal Nunez (again) in the 7th down 3-1. This time, he touched 101 mph several times, but after a 1-2-3, 7th was quite fallible allowing 2 runs in the 8th. He had no idea where the ball was going and neither did the catcher, either manager or 1.876 fans in the ballpark.

Beloit won the game 6-2 and the Marlins prospects acquitted themselves quite nicely. King earned the win after 6 innings of 5-hit, shutout ball and improved to 3-1 on the year. It looks like the teams will be battling for the first half crown in the MWL western division. While I am not emotionally attached to this team it will be interesting to see how these really raw players develop under the tutelage of the very experienced staff.

New manager, Billy Gardner Jr, and hitting coach, Dan Radison, have 24, and 25-years experience in the minors. In an age where baseball favors the shiny new, the Marlins have gone the other route. I’m looking forward to featuring these two in a story.

Pictures: Cappe batting and Barry scoring.