A late, clutch home run from Tirso Ornelas powered the TinCaps to a 3-1 win on the road over the Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday night at Jackson Field.
Clutch Ornelas Homer Powers TinCaps to Win in Lansing
Lansing, Michigan (July 27, 2021) – A late, clutch home run from Tirso Ornelas powered the TinCaps to a 3-1 win on the road over the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland A’s affiliate) on Tuesday night at Jackson Field.
Fort Wayne (34-39) trailed 1-0 with two outs in the top of the eighth inning when the 21-year-old left-handed batter launched a 2-1 pitch from Lansing (34-39) reliever Brock Whittlesey over the 23-foot-high wall in right field. He brought home left fielder Grant Little and third baseman Zack Mathis, who had both singled ahead of him.
After that, TinCaps lefty reliever Ramon Perez saved the lead with two scoreless innings of relief, as Fort Wayne began its 12-game road trip with a victory.
Early on, it was the two starting pitchers in the series opener who dominated. ‘Caps southpaw starter Danny Denz excelled in both his best and longest outing of his pro rookie season, throwing five innings of scoreless baseball and striking out six. The 2020 non-drafted free agent out of the University of Memphis threw 66 pitches across his five frames, pouring in 42 for strikes.
Meanwhile, the Lugnuts were led by right-hander Seth Shuman, who tossed six scoreless. Lansing scored the game’s initial run in the bottom of the sixth.
Ornelas, who MLB.com rates as the No. 19 Padres prospect, leads High-A Central in doubles on the season with 23. This was his second homer of the year.
- Next Game: Wednesday, July 28 @ Lansing (7:05 p.m.)
- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: RHP Anderson Espinoza (No. 10 Padres prospect)
- Lansing Probable Starter: RHP Shohei Tomioka
- Watch: MiLB.TV
- Listen: 1380 The Fan & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com
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