Trevor Clifton Carries South Bend to 9-2 Victory

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Three hits contorted into nine runs as South Bend outraced Fort Wayne, 9-2, on Saturday at Parkview Field after a nearly two-hour rain delay before the first pitch.

The Cubs (8-9) punched out nine runs on just three hits, benefiting from nine Fort Wayne walks, two wild pitches and a hit batsman. South Bend starter Trevor Clifton (1-0, 3.09 ERA) cruised in a stop-and-go evening with long half innings in the dugout. The righty from Tennessee struck out seven TinCaps in five innings of one-run ball. The 19-year old didn't issue a free pass en route to collecting his first win of the season.

After the Cubs drew three walks in the second inning off of Fort Wayne starter Ernesto Montas, South Bend left fielder Charcer Burks climbed into the box with the bases loaded and one out. Burks promptly placed a two-run single into right field to push the Cubs ahead 2-0. South Bend has scored first in 15 of its 17 games this season. Then with two outs, Fort Wayne shortstop Franchy Cordero committed his second error of the frame and allowed Burks and Cubs first baseman David Bote to score, stretching the margin to 4-0.

The Cubs loaded the bases again in the third inning by working three more walks, the second of which chased Montas. Fort Wayne reliever Jimmy Brasoban then plunked Bote on the elbow, which scored Jason Vosler. South Bend added two more and bumped the lead to 7-0 when Burks hit a grounder up the middle that Cordero flipped to second for the force-out. On the ensuing relay to first, Gleyber Torres sprinted around from second and followed designated hitter Justin Marra for the second run.

With two more walks in the fourth, the Cubs added an eighth run, as Trey Martin scurried home from third on a wild pitch. South Bend catcher Cael Brockmeyer then supplied the team's second hit - an RBI single to center field to widen the lead to 9-0.

The TinCaps grabbed their first run of the night in the last of the fourth inning, when left fielder Nick Torres singled up the middle.

Cubs right-handed reliever David Garner followed Clifton with shutout sixth and seventh innings. Lefty Jordan Minch worked the eighth and ninth frames. The TinCaps collected a late run to make it 9-2 in the final inning after left fielder Nick Torres started the inning with a double, moved to third on a flyout to right field and trotted home on a groundout.

The Fort Wayne bullpen retired 14 in a row from the fourth inning through the ninth inning before Young walked and Vosler dribbled an infield single for South Bend's third hit.

Originally scheduled to begin at 5:05 p.m. ET, the game didn't begin until 7:01 due to rain.

South Bend and Fort Wayne conclude their three-game series with Sunday's rubber game at 3:05 p.m. ET at Parkview Field. Cubs right-hander Ryan Williams (1-0, 0.66 ERA) will oppose TinCaps left-hander Taylor Cox (0-1, 5.73 ERA).