Go Crazy South Bend: Trahan Strikes in Grand Fashion as Hawks Win in 11th

Published on June 29, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The Fort Wayne TinCaps (35-44) kept leaving the door open a crack Sunday afternoon at Four Winds Field, and the South Bend Silver Hawks (45-34) kept sneaking in. Until the bottom of the eleventh inning when the Hawks kicked down the door and burst through, grandly slamming it behind them.

The game featured six separate lead changes. The Silver Hawks put up an early run in the first. The TinCaps answered immediately in the top of the second with two runs of their own. After Fort Wayne scored two in the third, the Hawks countered with three in the fifth. Then, in the eighth Fort Wayne moved a run ahead. When it looked like the SIlver Hawks would fall at home, they tied the game with a run in the bottom of the ninth. The 'Caps, refusing to give up, scored a run in the tenth. Again, South Bend matched with one run in their half of the tenth. When the TinCaps put up a zero in the top of the 11th, the Silver Hawks took advantage. After his teammates worked the bases loaded, South Bend right fielder Stryker Trahan launched a grand slam home run off over the right field fence giving the Silver Hawks a 11-7 victory.

The Silver Hawks, Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, jumped on TinCaps starter Walker Weickel in the first inning for the first run of the ball game. Shortstop Andrew Velazquez led off the inning with a single to right to extend his streak of consecutive games reaching base to 59. Velazquez moved into scoring position by stealing second. First baseman Daniel Palka collected the RBI with a double to right. The ball landed in front of right fielder Franmill Reyes and took a high bounce over his head, allowing Palka to continue to second and Velazquez to score for a 1-0 Hawks lead.

Fort Wayne, Class-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, countered with two runs in the top of the second. Reyes led off with a single back up the middle off Hawks starter Blayne Weller. After catcher Adolfo Reina saw 13 pitches, fouling off 10 of them, he lined a single to left, allowing Reyes to advance to third as he was running on the pitch. Second baseman River Stevens followed with a laser over Velazquez's head at short to score Reyes and move Reina to second. A 4-3 ground out by center fielder Henry Charles moved Reina to third and Stevens to second. A defensive miscue by the Hawks allowed the TinCaps to plate another run. Shortstop Josh VanMeter hit a groundball towards Palka at first. Palka made a diving stop, but no one covered first. The fielding lapse enabled Reina to score for a 2-1 Fort Wayne edge.

South Bend evened the score in the bottom of the second. Designated hitter Zach Esquerra led off with a double to the left field corner. After advancing to third on a 4-3 ground out by catcher Michael Perez, Esquerra came around to score on second baseman Ryan Gebhardt's 6-3 groundout.

The TinCaps tacked on two more runs in the third off Weller. Third baseman Dustin Peterson led off with a single down the third base line. A wild pitch by Weller allowed Peterson to move up into scoring position. First baseman Jake Bauers roped a double to right-center to bring Peterson home. Another wild pitch moved Bauers up to third. A single to right by Reyes brought Bauers home to put Fort Wayne up 4-2. Reyes then quickly moved up to third on a double to the left field corner by Reina. The damage ended there though, thanks to some nifty defense. Stevens hit a ground ball to Gebhardt at second. Gebhardt fired home to catch Reyes in a 4-2 run down. Hoping to catch the Hawks sleeping, Stevens rounded first and headed for second, but Perez fired down to Velazquez, who tagged Stevens to complete the double play.

The Hawks regained the lead in the bottom of the fifth. Perez led off with a single to center, and then Gebhardt was plunked by Weickel. Center fielder Breland Almadova attempted a sacrifice bunt, but Perez was forced out at third as Weickel picked up the bunt and threw over to Peterson for the first out of the inning. The bunt proved to be inconsequential as Velazquez followed with a towering homer run over the right field fence. The three run shot, scoring Gebhardt and Almadova, put the Hawks in front 5-4.

Fort Wayne countered with some home run power of their own in the eighth. With Daniel Gibson on in relief for the Hawks, designated hitter Ronnie Richardson doubled down the left field line. Peterson followed by taking a 0-1 pitch over the left field wall into the home run porch seats for a 6-5 TinCap advantage.

The Hawks refuses to go quietly in the bottom of the ninth. Gebhardt led off with a bunt single towards third off TinCap reliever Nick Mutz. South Bend's bunting woes continued. Almadova attempted to move Gebhardt to second, but his bunt went for a fielder's choice as Gebhardt was forced out at second 2-6. However, it worked out in the end as VanMeter tried to double Almadova off at first and his throw sailed wide and into the camera well of the first base dugout, allowing Almadova to reach second. Left fielder Chuck Taylor followed with a single to shallow left. South Bend manager, Mark Haley, had the windmill in full motion as he waved the speedy Almadova home to tie the ballgame at 6-6 and send it to extras.

Will Locante (W, 3-0) entered from the Hawks bullpen in the top of the tenth. Richardson led off with a bloop single to center. Peterson followed with a double to the gap in left-center. The fifth double of the day for the TinCaps was enough to score Richardson from first and put Fort Wayne back in front 7-6.

South Bend remained determined to keep the game alive in the bottom of the tenth. Third baseman Marty Herum grounded to third to lead off the inning, though he was able to reach safely after Peterson's throw pulled Bauers off the bag at first. Trahan executed the sacrifice bunt to push Herum to second. Catcher Grant Nelson, who had entered in the top of the ninth after Jamie Westbrook ran for Perez, knocked a slow roller up back up the middle into center. It was all Herum needed to score from second and send the game to the 11th tied at 7-7.

After Locante held Fort Wayne scoreless in the top of the 11th, Jorge Guzman (L, 1-1) entered in the bottom of the frame hoping to do the same for the TinCaps. With one out, Velazquez doubled to right. Once again, the ball landed in front of Reyes and took an awkward bounce that he was unable to corral, allowing Velazquez to continue on to second for the double. Guzman then proceeded to throw inside and hit Taylor. After a strikeout by Palka, Herum hit another ground ball to third. Peterson turned and threw to second to try for the force out on Taylor. However, Peterson's throw pulled Stevens off the base, allowing everyone to be safe. With the bases loaded, Trahan stepped into the box and with one swing, ended the extra inning affair. Trahan blasted a 1-0 offering from Guzman to just under the scoreboard in right for a game-ending grand slam as the Hawks took down the TinCaps 11-1.

The four game series against Fort Wayne concludes Monday night at Four Winds Field, with the first pitch set for 7:05 p.m. Erik Carbrera (3-5, 4.66) is scheduled to start for the TinCaps. Sean Furney (2-4, 5.10) will take the mound for South Bend.

It's a Belly Buster Monday! Upgrade your ticket for a wristband that includes unlimited hot dogs, hamburgers, popcorn and peanuts during the game, all for $15. Belly Buster Monday is presented by Kayem Foods.

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Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2014


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