River Bandits Swipe Extra Innings Opening Night Victory Away from Cubs 4-3
April 9, 2022 - Midwest League (MWL)
South Bend Cubs News Release
South Bend, IN - The South Bend Cubs rallied back to tie their Opening Night battle against the Quad Cities River Bandits in the 9th inning, but ultimately Quad Cities bested the Cubs in 10 frames, winning the first game of 2022 4-3.
Returning to the Four Winds Field rubber for a second consecutive season, tall right-hander Chris Clarke tossed a 1-2-3 top of the 1st to get the crowd into the game. It was the River Bandits getting the edge initially, as Kale Emshoff took Clarke deep for an early 1-0 lead on a solo home run. Quad Cities added to their lead with two runs in the top of the 3rd.
Clark fired 3.2 innings of three-run baseball, and allowed five hits with two walks and four strikeouts. In relief, left-hander Dalton Stambaugh gave South Bend a chance with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief out of the bullpen. Stambaugh punched out four River Bandits hitters.
With Stambaugh's effort out of the pen, South Bend got on the board for the first time in 2022 with their maiden round-tripper hit by second baseman Fabian Pertuz. On a no-doubter deep over the left field wall, Pertuz drove in himself and first baseman Matt Mervis to bring the Cubs within a run.
Along with snow and sleet falling at the ballpark, bats went cold until the 9th innings, as the Cubs tied the game at 3-3. With multiple runners in scoring position, 2020 Chicago Cubs first-round pick Ed Howard just missed belting a walk-off home run. The South Bend Cubs shortstop evened things on an RBI sacrifice-fly.
South Bend's dominant bullpen work was continued by right-hander Hunter Bigge leading up to extra innings, as he worked two innings of scoreless relief with three strikeouts.
In extras, Quad Cities took advantage of back-to-back singles by Luca Tresh and Burle Dixon to take the 4-3 lead. South Bend got their automatic runner to third base in the bottom half of the 10th, but were unable to get Owen Caissie home.
With the loss, South Bend will hope to earn their first win of the campaign Saturday afternoon at 4:05 PM as their three-game series versus the River Bandits continues. DJ Herz is expected to take the mound for the Cubs.
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