DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Fort Wayne TinCaps lost their second-straight game in walk-off fashion, falling to the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals affiliate), 5-4 on Friday night at Modern Woodmen Park.
Fort Wayne (46-62, 19-23) has lost five straight games, eight of its last nine, and is now 6.0 games back of the top spot in the Midwest League Eastern Division with 23 to go.
The 'Caps struck first before an out was recorded. After a pair of full-count walks by Justin DeCriscio and Ryan Wideman (No. 10 Padres prospect), Rosman Verdugo hit a three-run home run to right-center field. His 13th of the season and 27th of his TinCaps career, Verdugo is now tied for fifth all-time in career home runs.
In the bottom half of the first, Derlin Figueroa launched a two-run home run over the right-field wall. His Midwest League-leading 24th of the season ties the Quad Cities franchise record for single-season home runs set in 1978 by Brian Harper.
After chasing Quad Cities (55-51, 25-18) starter Blake Wolters out of the game after 41 pitches in the first inning, the 'Caps saw the Quad Cities bullpen for the final eight. In the third, the 'Caps scored their fourth and final run on Robbie Lavey's (No. 20 Padres prospect) first professional hit, a solo home run to right field.
That would end the Fort Wayne scoring as the 'Caps went 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, leaving eight runners on.
The River Bandits in the fourth brought the game back to one run with an RBI single by Nolan Sailors. In the fifth inning, Winyer Chourio (No. 15 Padres prospect) relieved starter Carson Montgomery. Chourio struck out four across 4.0 innings pitched, allowing one run on three hits and two walks.
That lone run tied the game at four in the bottom of the eighth inning, as Stone Russell delivered an RBI single to left field. In the ninth inning, 'Caps reliever Sean Barnett was unable to get an out. Following a four-pitch walk to Asbel Gonzalez (Royals No. 15 prospect) and a wild pitch to move him to second base, Zion Rose (No. 5 Royals prospect) delivered the dagger with an RBI, walk-off single to right field.
Next Game: Saturday, August 15 @ Quad Cities (5:30 p.m. ET - Game 1 of Doubleheader)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Bryan Balzer (No. 6 Padres prospect)
- River Bandits Probable Starter: LHP David Shields (Royals No. 4 prospect)
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