DAVENPORT, Iowa – The Fort Wayne TinCaps lost the first game of their doubleheader 4-2 on Saturday night to the Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals affiliate) before the finale was suspended heading to extra-innings, tied at two.
The 'Caps (46-63, 19-24) were shut out across the first six innings of game one as Quad Cities (56-51, 26-18) starter David Shields (No. 4 Royals prospect) struck out six, allowing two hits and one walk across six scoreless frames. In his third quality start this season, the southpaw earned his Midwest League-leading ninth win of the season.
The River Bandits struck first in the second inning on an RBI single down the left-field line by Erick Torres. In the bottom of the sixth, Quad Cities sent all nine batters to the plate, scoring three runs on a solo home run by Ben North, a bases-loaded RBI hit-by-pitch from Blake Mitchell (No. 5 Royals prospect), and a bases-loaded RBI walk by Derlin Figueroa.
Fort Wayne made a comeback attempt in the top of the seventh, scoring two runs on three hits. Catcher Robbie Lavey (No. 20 Padres prospect) hit a solo home run to right field to get on the board, his second straight game with a home run.
Three batters later, Dylan Grego brought home Bradley Frye on an RBI single to center field. With the tying runner on base and the potential go-ahead run at the plate, Luke Cantwell pinch-hit for Conner Westenburg, popping out to third base to end the game.
In game two, a pitching duel ensued. Bryan Balzer (No. 6 Padres prospect) struck out a career-high 10 batters across five shutout innings. Tossing a career-high 94 pitches, the 21-year-old allowed one hit and four walks without allowing a run.
Quad Cities starter Emmanuel Reyes struck out seven batters, one shy of a season high. After four scoreless innings, the 'Caps finally broke through in the fifth inning. Following a leadoff double to left field by Carlos Rodriguez, Frye put down a bunt. Rodriguez, breaking for third, slid in safely before the tag on a throw from Reyes.
Grego, for a second-straight game, delivered with an RBI single, this time through into right field to get Fort Wayne on the board. Following a sac bunt by Westenburg, Kasen Wells made it 2-0 with a sacrifice fly to center field.
Neither team scored in the sixth inning before fireworks started on the barge in the Mississippi River beyond the center field wall to lead off the seventh. This premature lighting of the fireworks started due to impending rain just a few miles away from the ballpark. The rain then started in the bottom of the seventh inning, with the fireworks still going and winds whipping over 20 mph.
After retiring the first two batters of the bottom of the seventh, Will Koger allowed a single to Angel Acosta. Designated hitter Nolan Sailors then lifted a game-tying, two-run home run into the jet stream to left field, dropping onto the berm.
After recording the final out to send the game into extra-innings, the game was then suspended due to weather. The game will be continued, tied at two in the top of the eighth inning on Sunday at 1 p.m. CT/2 p.m. ET.
Sunday's initially scheduled game will be played approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of game one. It will be a nine-inning game.