TinCaps Swipe Seven Bases and Blank Cubs 6-0
Fort Wayne, IN - Heading into the fifth clash of a six game series between the Fort Wayne TinCaps and South Bend Cubs, Fort Wayne had stolen seven bases in their first seven games of the season. In a 6-0 whitewash of the Cubs, the TinCaps got ahead early and
Fort Wayne, IN - Heading into the fifth clash of a six game series between the Fort Wayne TinCaps and South Bend Cubs, Fort Wayne had stolen seven bases in their first seven games of the season. In a 6-0 whitewash of the Cubs, the TinCaps got ahead early and matched their season steals total with seven in the game on a bright and sunny afternoon at Parkview Field.
South Bend sent one of the Chicago Cubs top pitching prospects to the mound in Kohl Franklin in his second start of the season.
An unfortunate first base runner came for Franklin in the bottom of the 1st as Corey Rosier chopped a ball down the third base line. Playing at the hot corner for the Cubs was Luis Verdugo, and he was shifted away from the chalk, giving Rosier an automatic hit. The next batter was Robert Hassell III, who looped a ball into left field off the end of his bat to score a run after Rosier stole second.
As the frame went on, Franklin walked three consecutive hitters and another run scored. Up against his inning pitch limit, Franklin fought back to strike out Justin Lopez and Jack Stronach. The punch out of Stronach ended up being Franklin’s last batter, as Joe Nahas then came in to record the final out of the 1st. Fort Wayne left the bases loaded.
Nahas then recorded a 1-2-3 second inning, but ran into trouble in the middle innings. Fort Wayne scored four combined runs between the 4th, 5th, and 6th against Nahas and lefty Didier Vargas. That included the lone home run of the game crushed by Stronach over the right field wall.
At the plate, South Bend managed just two hits by Jake Washer and Fabian Pertuz. Alexander Canario also reached base on a walk. For the Cubs, their best chance came in the top of the 7th as Pertuz lead off the inning with his single.
The base knock was quickly brought off the board when Yohendrick Piñango grounded into a double play. The next batter was Canario, who picked up his free pass. Edwuin Bencomo finished off the inning, and earned the win in the game.
Out of the Cubs bullpen, Vargas finished with 3.1 innings pitched and just one run allowed. He saved the South Bend bullpen some energy for the series finale tomorrow, as first pitch on Easter Sunday is set for 1:05 PM.
It will be a rematch of the series opener from Tuesday, as Daniel Palencia is expected to take the rubber for the Cubs. He will be opposed by lefty Noel Vela.