FORT WAYNE, Ind. (August 12, 2015) - Fort Wayne TinCaps center fielder Michael Gettys hit a single to center field in the bottom of the 11th inning, scoring left fielder Franchy Cordero from second base with the winning run in a 4-3 victory Tuesday night over the Quad Cities River Bandits, who lost a 3-1, seventh-inning lead in the teams' first meeting in two years at Parkview Field.
Playing their 16th extra-inning game - the team's most since 2009 and tied for the most in the Midwest League this season - the River Bandits (29-15 second half, 74-38 overall) lost consecutive games for the first time since July 17-18. The second-half Eastern Division-leading TinCaps (27-17, 59-53) won their eighth straight home game and fourth straight in walk-off fashion despite committing four errors.
River Bandits right-hander Justin Ferrell and TinCaps All-Star left-hander Thomas Dorminy dueled for four scoreless innings before Quad Cities took the lead in the fifth. Second baseman Jose Fernandez reached on a two-out error by second baseman Luis Urias, catcher Garrett Stubbs walked, and third baseman Luis Reynoso singled to center field to score Fernandez for an unearned run.
Quad Cities added to the lead against Dorminy in the sixth inning. Left fielder Drew Ferguson hit a leadoff single into center field, and shortstop Kristian Trompiz put down a sacrifice bunt along the first-base line, which Dorminy bobbled before he could make a throw. Center fielder Ramon Laureano singled on a sharp ground ball that deflected off third baseman Luis Tejada's glove, loading the bases with no outs. After first baseman Bryan Muñiz dropped an RBI single into center field, Dorminy stranded the bases loaded with consecutive strikeouts and a groundout. Dorminy allowed two runs - one earned - on five hits and one walk with four strikeouts in six innings.
Ferrell had a career-high eight strikeouts without allowing a hit through the first five innings. With a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the sixth, he allowed the first TinCaps hit when catcher Jose Ruiz led off with a double to left-center field. After a sacrifice by Urias and a walk by designated hitter Josh VanMeter, the TinCaps attempted a one-out double steal, but Stubbs threw to Fernandez to get VanMeter, while Ruiz scored to make it 2-1. Ferrell completed the inning, allowing one earned run on one hit and two walks with eight strikeouts in six innings.
The River Bandits restored their two-run lead against TinCaps right-hander Aaron Cressley in the seventh inning. Reynoso led off with an infield single to deep third base - his season-high third hit - and reached third base when Tejada made an errant throw to first base. Designated hitter Trent Woodward then rolled a ground ball up the third-base line for an infield single and RBI to make it 3-1.
Fort Wayne tied the game with two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning against right-hander Ryan Thompson. Right fielder Franmil Reyes and Cordero started with consecutive singles. After Gettys struck out, on another double steal, Stubbs threw to Trompiz near second base, but the shortstop dropped the ball before making a throw to home plate, so Reyes scored and Cordero reached second base. First baseman Trae Santos then skipped a game-tying single past Trompiz in a shifted position to the right of second base.
The River Bandits put a runner at third base with one out in the ninth inning, and the TinCaps loaded the bases against right-hander Angel Heredia (4-3) with two walks and a hit batter in the bottom of the ninth inning, but neither team scored. After TinCaps right-hander Yimmi Brasoban (4-3) worked a scoreless 11th inning, Heredia began his third relief inning by striking out Reyes, before Cordero doubled to left-center field past Laureano, and Gettys followed with a single into center field, scoring Cordero for the TinCaps' only lead and a 4-3 win.
The River Bandits continue their series in Fort Wayne at 6:05 p.m. Central Wednesday, when River Bandits right-hander Dean Deetz (1-0) is scheduled to face TinCaps right-hander Pete Kelich in the latter's Midwest League debut.
UP NEXT: The River Bandits have two specialty jerseys in MiLB.com's Jersey Joust contest to decide the best specialty jersey in Minor League Baseball. Visit riverbandits.com for a link to vote until Aug. 25 for the 2014 Autism Awareness Jersey and 2015 Boy Scouts Jersey. Ticket plans of 12 to 70 games - which include free parking, reserved seats, merchandise discounts, and guaranteed giveaways - are available by calling 563-324-3000.
