Kernals Pop Past TinCaps [VIDEO]
FORT WAYNE – Two separate fireworks displays lit up the night sky before the TinCaps fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels (Minnesota Twins), 13-10, in 10 innings on Saturday night at Parkview Field.
The TinCaps (9-14 second half, 45-48 overall) and the Kernels (13-10, 49-43) combined for five home runs in the first five innings. But Fort Wayne’s 8-1 lead evaporated, and Cedar Rapids climbed ahead 10-8 in the eighth.
In a lengthy game, the Three Rivers Festival fireworks display began at 10:10 p.m. ET — in the ninth inning. After the roughly 20-minute display concluded, the TinCaps tied the game with a pair of two-out runs in the bottom of the ninth to force an extra inning.
But, the Kernels scored a trio of runs with two outs in the 10th to outlast the TinCaps in the opener of a three-game set.
TinCaps first baseman Brad Zunica smashed a three-run home run in the first, and designated hitter Jose Carlos Ureña began the second with a solo shot, as the TinCaps led 6-0 after two.
Fort Wayne third baseman Carlos Belen led off the third with a solo blast of his own, and Zunica’s sacrifice fly in the fourth inning made it an 8-1 TinCaps margin.
But the Kernels pushed across six runs on seven hits in the fifth inning to get within one before they tied the game, 8-8, in the sixth.
Down 10-8 in the ninth, the TinCaps tied the game when left fielder Jhonatan Peña’s roller up the third-base line prompted a fourth Kernels error and allowed Belen and right fielder Alan Garcia to score to even the game at 10-10.
Cedar Rapids right-hander Tom Hackimer (W, 1-1) allowed two unearned runs over two innings. TinCaps righty Lou Distasio (l, 1-2) allowed the three runs in the 10th. Kernels righty Williams Ramirez (S, 3) worked a 1-2-3 10th with a pair of strikeouts.
The two teams get back at it with a 1:05 p.m. Sunday start.