Captains Top TinCaps, 4-1 on Fourth of July
Source: Fort Wayne TinCaps Twitter
Fort Wayne, Indiana
With the TinCaps offense struggling to produce hits, the Lake County Captains defeated the TinCaps 4-1.
For the fourth time in the last six games, the TinCaps fell behind in the first inning. With two outs and Jose Fermin on first, Ruben Cardenas singled. Left fielder Grant Little rushed the throw to third, and the errant throw bounced into Fermin and eluded third baseman, Tucupita Marcano, allowing Fermin to come home for a 1-0 lead.
The Captains added two more in the fourth. At shortstop, Justin Lopez mishandled a lead-off grounder from Fermin, who then advanced to second and third with a stolen base and on a wild pitch, respectively. Although starter Sam Keating retired the next two batters, Jonathan Engelman hit a weak ground ball between the pitcher and first baseman Lee Solomon to bring in Fermin. Daniel Schneeman then tripled on a hit that bounced on the foul line in right field, taking the Captains lead to 3-0.
A final run came in the eighth against reliever Jose Quezada. Hosea Nelson led off with a single and moved to second on a sacrifice bunt. Fermin got in on the scoring for a third time, doubling to center field and bringing in Nelson.
Captains’ starter Zach Draper shut down the TinCaps’ offense, spreading four TinCaps hits over six innings while striking out four. The TinCaps’ lone run came in the eighth inning with an assist from the Captains. Reliever Brendan Meyer walked the first two batters before being pulled. Randy Valladares struck out the first batter he faced but then walked the bases loaded. Dwanya Williams-Sutton grounded to second on a fielder’s choice that also scored the TinCaps’ only run.
On the TinCaps’ mound, Sam Keating had his longest start of the season, working seven innings. He gave up three runs, all unearned, on four hits and struck out four.
The four-game split series concludes Friday night.
GAME NOTES
Attendance was announced at 9,508, setting a record high for a single game.
The TinCaps have lost 6 of their last 7 games.
Blake Hunt was the only TinCap with a multiple hit game, both singles.
The TinCaps defense turned two double plays, including a 3-6 combination in the fifth.
Ketchup won the Condiment Sauce Packet race to pull within two of Mustard. Relish remains winless.
Ken A. Bugajski lives and works in Fort Wayne, Indiana. An English professor by trade, he spends many summer nights with his wife and daughter at Parkview Field, home of the TinCaps.