Game recap from the TinCaps:
Leasher Gives Strong Outing, But TinCaps Falter Later
By Cory Stace
Geneva, Ill. (May 12, 2018) – Starting pitcher Aaron Leasher went a TinCaps’ season-long seven innings, allowing four hits and only one unearned run, but the TinCaps fell in 12 innings to the Kane County Cougars (Arizona Diamondbacks), 6-5, on Friday night at Northwestern Medicine Field.
Kane County (16-16), which trailed 4-0 at the stretch, rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth and won on a walk-off ground ball in the 12th inning from Gabriel Maciel. The 12-inning game was the longest played this season by the TinCaps, who previously hadn’t gone beyond 10.
Going into the ninth, the Cougars trailed, 4-1, but two walks to lead off the inning swung the momentum. Eudy Ramos singled on a line drive to right field to score, Maciel and bring Kane County within two runs. The next batter, Yoel Yanqui, doubled to left field to score two runners and tie the game at 4-4, forcing extras.
Fort Wayne (14-21) scored in the top of the 11th inning to take the lead back when left fielder Jack Suwinski, who grew up 40 miles from the ballpark, singled up the middle to score second baseman Justin Lopez to give the TinCaps a 5-4 advantage.
In the bottom of the 11th, Kane County responded with a sacrifice fly from Joey Rose to score Jasrado Chisholm to draw the game once again at 5-5.
The Cougars sealed the win in the bottom of the 12th when Maciel grounded a full-count pitch to second base to score Ernie De La Trinidad from third to give Kane County the walk-off victory.
Fort Wayne opened the scoring in the top of the second inning. After two singles and a walk loaded the bases with no outs, Suwinski grounded a ball to first base where Yoel Yanqui committed a throwing error that scored catcher Luis Campusano and gave the TinCaps a 1-0 lead.
Later in the frame, designated hitter Esteury Ruiz stepped to the plate with the bags full and two outs and lined a ball to center field, scoring Lopez and shortstop Gabriel Arias to cap a three-run inning for the TinCaps to go up, 3-0.
The TinCaps added another run in the fourth inning when Ruiz picked up his third RBI of the night on a double to right field, scoring center fielder Jeisson Rosario to take a 4-0 edge.
The Cougars broke their scoring seal in the bottom of the seventh inning. With two outs, Chisholm came home from third base on a fielding error by the 18-year-old third baseman Luis Almanzar to cut the deficit to 4-1 and set up for the late rally in the bottom of the ninth.
Fort Wayne received strong performances from Ruiz and Campusano who both recorded multi-hit games, including three RBIs from Ruiz, who leads the team in hits, triples, and home runs.
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