News release from the TinCaps:
TinCaps Wallop Lansing, 9-4, With Season-High 19 Hits
LANSING, Mich. (April 22, 2015) – Despite freezing-cold weather, the TinCaps tallied a season-high 19 hits and beat the Lansing Lugnuts, 9-5, at Cooley Law School Stadium on Wednesday night.
All nine batters in Fort Wayne’s lineup produced at least one hit and five drove in at least one run. The impressive hitting display came on a night in which the temperature started at 37 degrees and felt like it was in the 20s with the wind chill.
The TinCaps benefitted from the wind in the top of the first inning when third baseman Duanel Jones — who led everyone with four hits — and right fielder Franmil Reyes hit consecutive two-out, run-scoring bloopers to right field that swirled away from Lansing (10-4) fielders.
With the score 2-0 in the second, second baseman Felipe Blanco drilled a two-run homer the opposite way to right field, where the wind was blowing out.
After the Lugnuts put a run up in the bottom of the second, Blanco built the lead back to three in the fourth with an RBI-single to make it 5-1.
While snow and freezing rain fell, Lansing put a scare into Fort Wayne (4-7) with a three-run fifth inning.
However, the TinCaps answered the bell with a pair in the seventh and two more in the eighth. Reyes delivered an RBI-single and first baseman Trae Santos hit a sacrifice fly. Later, Blanco drove in his fourth run of the game with a single and designated hitter Nick Torres doubled him home.On the mound, Taylor Aikenhead (W, 1-0) held Lansing to five runs — only four earned — over five innings. The left-hander struck out four as he kept Lansing off-balance with a combination of fastballs, changeups, and curveballs. Hard-throwing righty Dinelson Lamet followed with three scoreless frames in which he fanned six. Yimmi Brasoban tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to end it.
Chase Mallard (L, 0-1) took the loss as he surrendered five runs in 3 1/3 innings.
The TinCaps and Lugnuts are scheduled to play the rubber match of their three-game set on Thursday at 7:05 p.m. Walker Lockett (0-1, 5.06) will be on the bump for Fort Wayne against Conner Greene (0-1, 6.23) in a dual of right-handers. The affair can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, Box Score, and the TuneIn Radio app.
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