News release from the TinCaps:
Fort Wayne falters in 5-4 loss at West Michigan
Comstock Park, Michigan (April 26, 2014) – The TinCaps lost for the first time in three days on Saturday, as they fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 5-4, at Fifth Third Ballpark. Fort Wayne led, 4-2, entering the bottom of the sixth before West Michigan rallied for the win. The TinCaps committed three errors in the loss, leading to a pair of unearned Whitecaps runs.
A three-game road win streak seemed promising for Fort Wayne (9-12) when Franmil Reyes hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth inning. That gave the TinCaps a 4-2 lead and served as the highlight of a three-run inning. The TinCaps had finally broken through against West Michigan (11-11) starter Austin Kubitza (3-0), who had limited the visitors to just an infield single in the first five frames. The 18-year-old Reyes’ home run was his team-leading third of the season.
But the Fort Wayne lead was fleeting. The Whitecaps scratched a run across against Weickel in the bottom of the sixth to make it 4-3. For the second outing in a row, Weickel went six innings. He allowed three runs (two earned) on six hits, while walking three and striking out one.
Kyle Lloyd (0-1) replaced Weickel in the seventh. Lloyd struck out the first batter he faced before walking Raph Rhymes and conceding a single to Dominic Ficociello. With Rhymes at third, Lloyd issued a balk that tied the game, 4-4. He buckled down to retire Ben Verlander and was set to escape the inning with the scored knotted. However, TinCaps third baseman Dustin Peterson committed a throwing error on a ground ball hit to him by Wynton Bernard. Ficociello scored what proved to be the winning run on the play.
Fort Wayne and West Michigan conclude their three-game set Sunday afternoon at 1:00. Adrian De Horta is slated to start for the TinCaps, countered by Kevin Ziomek. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380.
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