TinCaps Baseball: Rivals Split Amid Raindrops
FORT WAYNE – The Fort Wayne TinCaps split a doubleheader with the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs) on Saturday at Parkview Field. Reinaldo Ilarraza picked up two hits and two RBIs combined between the two games.
In Game 1, which was delayed 2 hours and 1 minute by rain, South Bend (14-9) scored the first run in the top of the second inning. With two outs, Luis Ayala singled and moved to second on an errant throw. With Tyler Payne batting, Ayala stole third base and scored on a wild throw to third, giving the Cubs a 1-0 lead.
Fort Wayne (8-15) tied the game in the bottom of the second inning. G.K. Young led off with a double. An Eguy Rosario single put runners on first and second with no outs. Marcus Greene Jr. followed with a fielder’s choice groundout, moving Young to third base. Rosario was out at second base, but Greene was safe at first. Brad Zunica then doubled, scoring Young to tie the game, 1-1.
The Cubs added two runs in the third inning. Yeiler Peguero scored from third base on an errant throw on a pickoff attempt at first base. Chris Pieters later scored on single from Jhonny Pereda to put South Bend up, 3-1.
The TinCaps took control of the game in the fourth inning. Everyone in the Fort Wayne lineup had an at bat in the frame as the TinCaps scored six runs on four hits to go in front, 7-3. Alan Garcia, Ilarraza, and Young all provided run-scoring hits.
Fort Wayne reliever Nick Monroe (W) allowed just one hit in 2 1/3 scoreless innings of work while striking out three batters. South Bend starting pitcher Bryan Hudson (L) allowed all seven Fort Wayne runs in 3 1/3 innings pitched.
In Game 2, it was Fort Wayne which jumped out to the early lead. The TinCaps loaded the bases with two walks and a single. Rosario then worked a walk to bring home the first run of the game and put Fort Wayne up, 1-0.
South Bend tied the game in the fourth inning. With a runner on second base and one out, Isaac Paredes singled to the edge of the outfield grass, allowing Peguero to score and tie the game, 1-1.
In the fifth inning, the Cubs took the lead. Vimael Machin led off with a double. Machin scored on a Pareda single to give the Cubs a 2-1 advantage.
South Bend added a pair of insurance runs in the sixth. With runners on first and second and one out, Kevonte Mitchell doubled down the right-field line to score both runners and put the Cubs in front, 4-1.
TinCaps starter Will Headean (L) struck out five batters in 5 1/3 innings pitched in the loss. Cubs reliever Matt Swarmer (W) didn’t allow a run and struck out four batters in 2 1/3 innings of work on the mound.