News release from the TinCaps:
One run enough as TinCaps blank Lugnuts
Lansing, MI (May 6, 2014) – It’s not been often the TinCaps have played in a low-scoring game this season, but Tuesday they were the victors in a 1-0 win over the Lansing Lugnuts. Dane Phillips’ fourth-inning RBI single scored Dustin Peterson, and the Fort Wayne pitching staff took care of the rest as the team evened the three-game series at 1-1.
Kyle Lloyd made a spot start for Fort Wayne (13-18) in place of the injured Pete Kelich, who had originally been scheduled to take the hill against the Lugnuts. Lloyd, who started more than 40 games in his four-year college career at Evansville, shined in the first start of his two-year professional career. He fanned four and allowed just two hits in four innings of work.
The trio of Justin Livengood (2-1), who earned the win, Tayron Guerrero, and Nick Mutz, carried the final five innings on the hill, allowing only four hits, two walks, and combined to strike out six. Mutz notched his third save of the season, and his first since April 24th.
Guerrero came on in the seventh to replace Livengood with the bases loaded and two out. The righthander, whose pitches registered as fast as 96 miles per hour on the radar gun, struck out Lansing (15-16) center fielder D.J. Davis to end the inning and avert the largest threat the Lugnuts mounted.
Phillips stroked a two-out single to right field to plate Peterson, who had doubled with one out against Lansing starter Shane Dawson (0-1). The Fort Wayne offense collected six hits, as did Lansing’s nine, and mounted one other large threat, loading the bases in the sixth. Ronnie Richardson led off with a triple, and both Mallex Smith, who celebrated his 21st birthday today, and Dustin Peterson, drew walks. Lansing reliever Alberto Tirado then found the strike zone, getting three straight strikeouts to end the inning.
The shutout victory was Fort Wayne’s second of the season, with the other coming in a 4-0 victory at West Michigan on April 25th. It was also just the third win, out of 18 possible games, in which the team has scored fewer than four runs.
The finale of the series is scheduled for Wednesday night at 7:05 p.m. The scheduled starters are Coby Cowgill for the TinCaps and Matt Dermody for Lansing. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com.
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