The TinCaps completed a five-run comeback Thursday, storming back to take down the Lake County Captains, 8-6, at Parkview Field to earn their first victory of the season before an early season-best crowd of 4,407 on a sunny, 70-plus degree night.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
TinCaps Mount 5-Run Comeback to Earn 1st Win in Front of 4,407
By Derek DeckerFort Wayne, Indiana (April 13, 2023) – The TinCaps completed a five-run comeback Thursday, storming back to take down the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Guardians affiliate), 8-6, at Parkview Field to earn their first victory of the season before an early season-best crowd of 4,407 on a sunny, 70-plus degree night.
TinCap shortstop Jackson Merrill, the No. 1 ranked prospect in the Midwest League, opened the scoring with his first home run this season in the bottom of the first inning. The blast marked Fort Wayne’s first of the year and the first of three hits Thursday for Merrill.
Lake County took the lead in the top of the third after a leadoff triple by third baseman Christian Cairo, one of his two triples in the game. Designated hitter Victor Planchart drove him in on a sacrifice fly, and right fielder Cesar Idrogo later scored on an error.
The Captains continued to build their lead with three more in the fourth and added one in the sixth, carrying a 6-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth.
The TinCaps began their rally in the last of the sixth, with first baseman Nathan Martorella and designated hitter Carlos Luis each drawing walks. They would both come around to score on a two-run double by left fielder Justin Farmer, who has collected three extra-base hits in the series.
In the seventh, the ‘Caps sent eight hitters to the plate, with center fielder Jakob Marsee working his team-best fifth walk with one out. Merrill followed that with his third hit of the night before Martorella walked for a second time. With the bases loaded, second baseman Lucas Dunn smacked a line drive single to score two, and an errant throw cleared the bases, giving the TinCaps a 7-6 lead. Luis added insurance with a double immediately after, and reliever Jason Blanchard tossed two shutout innings to slam the door in the eighth and ninth.
Starter Jairo Iriarte once again showed flashes of dominance, sitting down the first six he faced, four of which came on strikeouts. Reliever Chris Lincoln also contributed a shutout seventh inning.
Overall, the TinCaps pounded out nine hits, which is a season high, and the eight runs also counted for the most in a single game this season. Eight of the nine TinCap batters reached base in Thursday’s contest.
Next Game: Friday, April 14 vs. Lake County Captains (7:05 p.m.)
- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: RHP Victor Lizarraga (No. 7 Padres prospect)
- Lake County Probable Starter: RHP Tommy Mace
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