TinCaps win third straight, 6-2 over Dayton
Credit: TinCaps
Fort Wayne, Indiana
A four-run rally broke a tied game and paved the way for the TinCaps’ 6-2 victory over the Dayton Dragons.
With the win, the TinCaps have taken three games in a row and won seven of eight games in August.
With the game tied at two in the sixth inning, Blake Hunt smacked a lead-off double to the left-field corner, which was followed by a Michael Curry walk.
Justin Lopez tried to lay down a sacrifice bunt, but the Dragons were able to force Hunt at third, leaving men on first and second with one out. After Ethan Skender was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Tyler Benson grounded to second base into what looked like an inning-ending double play. The Dragons’ shortstop failed to catch the ball, allowing Curry to score and for the bases to remain loaded. Lee Solomon singled to right field to bring in his second and third RBIs of the night to increase the lead to 5-2. With runners at the corners, Dragons’ catcher Jay Schuyler attempted a third-base pick-off play, but his throw sailed into left field, and Benson crossed home to put the TinCaps up 6-2.
The TinCaps had taken an early 2-0 lead, scoring one run in each of the first two innings. In the first, Tucupita Marcano hit a lead-off single and stole second. With two outs, Curry hit a bloop single to center to bring in Marcano. In the second, Lee Solomon hit his third homer of the season, an opposite-field solo shot.
On the mound, Efrain Contreras started very strong, retiring the first ten batters he faced. The two Dragons’ runs came in the fourth. Contreras gave up a walk to third baseman Claudio Finol. After Finol moved to second on a sacrifice bunt, Schuyler singled to bring him into home. Mariel Bautista followed with a double to score the Dragons’ second run. Outside of the fourth, though, Contreras pitched well, throwing a fastball in the low-to-mid nineties throughout his five innings and striking out eight.
In relief, Jose Quezada pitched two innings and gave up a single and two walks but also struck out four. Cody Tyler closed out the game, retiring six straight in the eight and ninth.
The TinCaps will look to sweep the series with the Dragons on Friday night before heading out for a six-day road trip.
GAME NOTES
Announced attendance was 7,885, pushing the season total over 300,000.
Solomon led hitting, going 2-for-4 with three RBIs and a run scored. Marcano and Curry also had two-hit games.
TinCaps’ pitching combined for fourteen Ks in the game.
Dwanya Williams-Sutton was hit by a pitch twice in the game, bringing his season total to 27 HBPs, a TinCaps’ team record.
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.