Weathers Solid, But Late Home Run Leads to 3-1 TinCaps Loss
Credit: EVT Sports
Fort Wayne, Indiana
Despite a sterling performance by TinCaps’ starter Ryan Weathers, a 9th-inning collapse led to a 3-1 TinCaps loss in the first of a three-game series with the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
Weathers was impressive in the start, maintaining a fastball in the lower-to-mid 90s throughout his appearance. Working six innings, Weathers faced the minimum number of batters and recorded six K’s, including striking out the side in the top of the 3rd. Of the 18 Hot Rods Weathers faced, only two reached base and neither advanced to second thanks to double plays. With the game deadlocked at 0-0, Weathers left the game after the 6th inning with a no-decision.
Although the TinCaps entered the 9th with a 1-0 lead, relievers Angel Acevedo and Carlos Belen were unable to seal the victory. The inning began with Acevedo giving up a walk to number nine batter Bryce Brown. The Hot Rods’ lead-off hitter, Ford Proctor, worked out of an 0-2 count to deliver a home run that rose just above the yellow line on the left-field fence, giving the Hot Rods a 2-1 lead. Manager Anthony Contreras then pulled Acevedo to bring in Belen. Belen retired two of the first three batters he faced, but a fielding error by second baseman Xavier Edwards extended the inning. Following a walk that put runners on first and second, Roberto Alvarez hit a broken-bat single to give the Hot Rods an insurance run.
The TinCaps’ lone run came in the 7th inning when Dwanya Williams-Sutton hit a sharp grounder between short and third. The ball was fielded, but the rushed throw went wide of the first baseman’s reach, putting Williams-Sutton on second base. After a Justin Lopez sacrifice bunt, Augustin Ruiz ripped a single to right field for the game’s first run.
The TinCaps threatened in the 5th as Lopez and Ruiz began the inning with a single and walk, respectively. Lee Solomon then executed a perfect bunt to the third-base side to load the bases with no outs. Juwaun Harris popped out to third base, and then Edwards drove the ball to left field for a sacrifice fly. Lopez came home, but on a Hot Rods’ appeal, home plate umpire Ben Rosen ruled that Lopez left early (or, instead, missed home plate–the official call was unclear), and the inning was over.
Playing first base, Solomon had an outstanding night on defense. He fielded three ground balls for three unassisted outs and extended himself more than once to create outs, including a stretch that bordered on doing the splits for a 2nd-inning a double play.
The series continues Tuesday with a 12:05 start time.
Game Notes:
-Announced attendance was 2,721.
-Although he went only 1-for-2, left-fielder Grant Little was on base the most for the Caps, drawing two walks in addition to a base hit.
-Of the 11 hits in the game, 10 were singles; Proctor’s game-winning HR was the only extra-base hit.
-Ketchup won the Condiment Packet Race, narrowly beating out Mustard. Through 1.5 seasons, 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.