Down on the Farm: Kane County wins in extras vs Fort Wayne, 4-3
Mar 4, 2014; Mesa, AZ, USA; Chicago Cubs catcher
Eli Whiteside(32) catches in the second inning of their spring training baseball game with the Oakland Athletics at Cubs Park. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports.
Tonight, two of the five Minor League affiliates returned to action to continue the young season. Last night, the Iowa Cubs were the only one of three who walked away with victories, picking up a 4-1 decision over the Nashville Sounds.
Tonight the Iowa Cubs were taking on the Sounds once again, with the Kane County Cougars going up against the San Diego Padres’ Class-A affiliate, the Fort Wayne Tincaps.
There’s a lot of action going on across the farm, but we’re only here for Cubbies baseball so let’s get things going and start off with the Iowa Cubs and the Nashville Sounds.
Right-hander Chris Rusin took the mound today for Iowa against Nashville. Rusin was unable to get through two innings before allowing the Sounds to put up two runs off an RBI double by Eugenio Velez, giving Nashville the 2-0 lead early on. Iowa was able to answer back during the bottom half of the fifth inning courtesy of catcher Eli Whiteside. Whiteside singled on a line drive to right field to bring in third baseman Christian Villanueva to make it a 2-1 ballgame.
Rusin would allow the Sounds to take a 3-1 lead off a sacrifice fly by shortstop Hector Gomez. The southpaw was pulled from the game after completing six innings of work and striking out six despite being charged with two earned runs off seven hits. Right-hander Alberto Cabrera would enter the game for Rusin during the top of the eighth inning but would be unable to walk away without keeping some runs off the board.
Nashville picked up an RBI off a ground rule double by first baseman Hunter Morris. Cabrera made it through two innings before he was replaced by Marcos Mateo.
Iowa was unable to close the gap or tie the game during the bottom of the ninth, allowing Rob Wooten to pick up the save for Nashville.
Winning pitcher for tonight’s game is Mike Fiers (1-0, 1.50 ERA), losing pitcher is Chris Rusin (0-2, 6.52 ERA) and the save goes to Rob Wooten (3).
Iowa falls to 2-4 on the season
Final Score: Nashville 4, Cubs 1.
The Kane County Cougars got off to a great start after they were able to keep runs off the board during the top of the first inning. Yasiel Balaguert was able to reach on a force attempt, leading to the first run of the ball game coming off an error by shortstop Franchy Cordero. Jacob Rogers would reach on a fielders choice allowing Ben Carhart to come across to score making it a 2-0 game.
Cougars would get an additional run to make it a 3-0 ball game on a single to right field by Jacob Hannemann. Fort Wayne would come back and tie the game during the top of the fifth inning. Harry Charles would get the TinCaps on the board with a single to left field to make it a 3-1 contest. Mallex Smith would pick up an RBI on a sacrifice bunt to make it a 3-2 game still in the top of the fifth. Tying run came off another RBI single of the inning, this time from Dustin Peterson.
Neither team would score before the bottom of the ninth, taking this game into extra innings. The Cougars were able to pick up runners on the corners during the bottom of the 12th inning after a throwing error on a sac bunt. Fort Wayne walked the bases loaded with no outs, hoping to pick up a force play at any base. The TinCaps’ defense were charged with four errors tonight, something their skipper can’t be happy about.
Franchy Cordero had a ball hit towards him at shortstop by Ben Carthart and attempted to make a play at the plate. The ball got away from the catcher, allowing Carlos Penalver to cross the plate to seal up a walk-off win.
Winner pitcher for the Cougars is Zack Godley (1-1, 7.71 ERA), losing pitcher is Nick Mutz (0-1, 0.00 ERA).
Cougars improve to 3-2 on the year.
Final Score: Cougars 4, TinCaps 3.