The Fort Wayne TinCaps cruised to a 12-5 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Wednesday night at Dow Diamond in Midland, Michigan.
Little Sets Single-Game Franchise Stolen Base Record in Win
By Jack McMullenMidland, Michigan (August 4, 2021) – On a night when left fielder Grant Little stole five bases to break a franchise record for the most in a single game, the Fort Wayne TinCaps cruised to a 12-5 win over the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate) on Wednesday night at Dow Diamond.
In the first inning, the TinCaps (37-43) jumped on the scoreboard with their base running prowess. After Little walked, he stole second and third base with right fielder Agustin Ruiz at the plate. After Ruiz was hit by a pitch, Fort Wayne pulled off a double-steal. When Ruiz went to swipe second, Little broke for the plate and scored when the throw from the catcher went to second base.
Shortly after the wizardry on the bases, TinCaps shortstop Justin Lopez singled to center to drive in a run, a bases-loaded walk to second baseman Ethan Skender, and a sacrifice fly from first baseman Chris Givin extended Fort Wayne’s lead to 4-0 before starter Connor Lehmann even toed the rubber.
The ‘Caps added one more in the top of the second on an RBI single from third baseman Zack Mathis. In the bottom of the inning, the Loons (44-36) posted a run on the scoreboard with a run-producing single from second baseman Zac Ching.
In the third, Fort Wayne and Little accomplished history. After three stolen bases in the first and one more after a single in the second, Little stole his fifth base of the night after ripping an RBI single, breaking a record set by Jeremy Owens as a Fort Wayne Wizard on April 28, 1999 against Beloit.
After Little swiped the bag, he came in to score on a three-run home run by Ruiz. The blast extended Ruiz’s team lead of 15 home runs, and put him in to the tie for third in High-A Central. Most importantly, it blew the game open, giving Fort Wayne a 9-1 advantage.
A balk, a wild pitch, and a run-producing single from Skender extended the TinCaps lead to 11 in the sixth. However, Great Lakes added to its total in the bottom of the frame. The Loons plated three in the inning, highlighted by High-A Central’s active leader in home runs, right fielder Andy Pages, blasting his 22nd home run of the year.Despite a late run from the Loons in the bottom of the eighth, the TinCaps rode their early lead to their first win over the Loons in the last seven matchups.
- Next Game: Thursday, Aug. 5 @ Great Lakes (7:05 p.m.)
- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: LHP Noel Vela (TinCaps debut)
- Great Lakes Probable Starter: RHP Clayton Beeter (No. 10 Dodgers prospect)
- Watch: MiLB.TV
- Listen: 1380 The Fan & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com
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