Game recap from the TinCaps:
TinCaps Surge Late, Sweep Bowling Green
Fort Wayne plates two in ninth, wins fifth consecutive game
By Mike Monaco
BOWLING GREEN, Ky. (June 10, 2016) — For the sixth time this season, the TinCaps won when trailing after eight innings after a come-from-behind 4-3 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays) on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.
Fort Wayne (34-26) completed the three-game sweep of the Hot Rods (29-30) and stretched its winning streak to a season-long five games. No other Midwest League team has won more than two games when trailing after eight innings.
Trailing 3-2 with one out in the top of the ninth inning, TinCaps designated hitter Brad Zunica delivered a two-run single up the middle to plate pinch runner Ruddy Giron and third baseman Carlos Belen.
Fort Wayne righty Gerardo Reyes (S, 4) then worked a 1-2-3 home ninth with a pair of strikeouts to secure his second save of the series.
The TinCaps began the night two games behind second-place Lake County in the Eastern Division.
Bowling Green struck first with a run in the bottom of the first inning, but the TinCaps countered in the second when Zunica launched his fifth home run of the season—a solo shot to right field to tie the game, 1-1.
Fort Wayne jumped ahead in the fourth when Belen floated an RBI single to center to reel in shortstop Peter Van Gansen, who led off the frame with a double.
The Hot Rods, though, tied the game, 2-2, in the bottom of the inning and grabbed a 3-2 lead in the seventh with an unearned run.
TinCaps reliever Corey Kimber (W, 1-0) worked two innings in his Fort Wayne debut. He followed southpaw Jerry Keel, who logged 2.1 scoreless innings with a career-high four strikeouts. Keel has not allowed an earned run over his last nine outings.
Hot Rods All-Star right-hander Diego Castillo (L, 1-3) blew the save.
Next Game
- Friday, June 10 at Dayton at Fifth Third Field (7:07 p.m. ET)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Jake Nix
- Dragons Probable Starter: LHP Ty Boyles
- Listen: ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM, TinCapsRadio.com, TuneIn Radio app