News release from the TinCaps:
Lansing’s long balls lead to Fort Wayne loss
LANSING, Mich. (May 23, 2015) – Three home runs for the Lansing Lugnuts led to Fort Wayne’s demise in a 10-1 loss at Cooley Law School Stadium on Saturday night. Ruddy Giron and Duanel Jones had three hits apiece for the TinCaps, who saw their modest two-game winning streak come to an end.
Richard Ureña gave the Lugnuts a 1-0 lead in the third inning with an RBI-single to score Tim Locastro, who had been hit by a pitch earlier in the frame. Lansing — which is tied with Bowling Green for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division — tacked on two more runs against right-hander Chris Huffman (L, 1-2) in the fourth inning.
The Lugnuts flexed their muscle in a five-run fifth inning with two home runs to create some breathing room. First, Danny Jansen vaulted a three-run homer to make it 6-0. Then, Locastro launched an opposite-field two-run blast to put Fort Wayne (14-26) behind 8-0.
The lone TinCaps run came in the top of the seventh as designated hitter Franmil Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to plate right fielder Nick Torres, who had walked.
Lansing (25-18) stretched its lead to 10-1 in the eighth on a two-run homer by Ureña. The 19-year-old shortstop has hit six home runs on the year, and four have come against the TinCaps.
Lugnuts starter Shane Dawson (W, 6-2) is the first pitcher in the league to six wins this season. The lefty limited Fort Wayne to five hits and a walk, while striking out six in 6 2/3 innings.
For the TinCaps, Giron — the youngest player in the league at 18 — is hitting .552 through his first six games. He’s 16-for-29. Meanwhile, Jones upped his batting average to a team-leading .307. The corner infielder leads Fort Wayne in all three triple crown categories as he also has seven home runs and 32 RBIs.
The visitors also received 2 1/3 shutout innings of relief from lefty Griffin Russell. In his first appearance wearing the green and gray, Russell yielded just one hit and struck out two.
The TinCaps and Lugnuts play the third game of their four-game set on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, Box Score, and the TuneIn Radio app.
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