Game recap from the TinCaps:
Grand miscues cost TinCaps
(August 25, 2014) – It wasn’t a grand slam. More like a grand error. Or two. And just like that, a tie game in the top of the sixth inning turned south on one play for the TinCaps in what would become a 6-2 loss to the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Parkview Field on Monday night.
Fort Wayne (27-36, 57-75) starter Kyle Lloyd (6-5) had allowed only one run through five innings as he struck out six. But in the sixth, he allowed a pair of leadoff singles to Spencer Edwards and Willy Adames. Kean Wong then bunted for a hit to load the bases. That brought up Alexander Simon who knocked a base-hit up the middle to plate two runs. And then some.
TinCaps center fielder Henry Charles threw the ball to third base in an effort to get Wong. Charles’ throw, however, was off the bag. Not only that, but it led Simon to break for second. Fort Wayne third baseman Fernando Perez attempted to retire Simon at third, however, his throw went into right field, allowing Wong to score. It went from bad to worse when right fielder Franmil Reyes let the ball roll under his glove bringing Simon — the batter — home to score as well.
A 5-1 deficit would be tough to overcome on any night, but especially on this one for the TinCaps. Fernando Perez hit a first inning solo home run that at the time tied the game, 1-1. But Fort Wayne wouldn’t get a hit again until Perez came up in the seventh. In between, Bowling Green (28-34, 60-71) starter German Marquez retired 17 batters in a row.
Marquez (5-6) left after six innings with the Perez homer as the only blemish on his line. The 19-year-old from Venezuela struck out eight.
The Hot Rods added another run in the sixth to extend their lead to 6-1. The TinCaps had a too-little-too-late rally in the bottom of the ninth that saw Perez plate Nick Schulz — who doubled — on a sacrifice fly.
Perez now has 89 runs batted in on the season — five more than anyone else in the Midwest League. He’s also up to 16 home runs, which is the most by a Fort Wayne player since Jaff Decker hit 16 in 2009.
Fort Wayne hosts Bowling Green at Parkview Field in the rubber match of their three-game series on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. Jeffery Enloe is slated to start for the TinCaps against Ben Griset. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app. It can also be seen on XFINITY Channel 81 throughout Indiana.