The TinCaps second baseman Nerwilian Cedeño delivered a two-run walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending Fort Wayne to a thrilling, 8-7, win over the West Michigan Whitecaps.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
Cedeño’s Walk-Off Hit Leads TinCaps to Thrilling Win in Front of Sellout Crowd of 8,516 on July Fourth
By Derek DeckerFort Wayne, Indiana (July 4, 2023) – In front of a season-high sellout crowd of 8,516 fans at Parkview Field on the Fourth of July, TinCaps second baseman Nerwilian Cedeño delivered a two-run walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth inning, sending Fort Wayne (7-3, 39-37) to a thrilling, 8-7, win over the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers affiliate). Cedeño finished the game 4-for-5 with four RBIs.
It was the 17th largest crowd for a TinCaps game since Parkview Field opened in 2009. It was also the largest crowd at the downtown ballpark since July 4, 2019, when a record of 9,508 was set.
Fort Wayne (7-3, 39-37) starting pitcher Jairo Iriarte (No. 11 Padres prospect) spun six quality innings with eight strikeouts. However, this proved to be an offensive shootout that featured a combined 30 hits.
West Michigan (5-5, 37-38) scored first, plating a pair in the game’s opening frame. Second baseman Jace Jung (No. 2 Tigers prospect) smashed an RBI double before designated hitter Izaac Pachecho (No. 12 Tigers prospect) ripped an RBI single to make it 2-0.
The TinCaps struck back in the bottom of the fourth with second baseman Nerwilian Cedeño’s (No. 12 Padres prospect) RBI triple, which was his first three-bagger of the season after missing more than two months with a wrist injury. Then left fielder Albert Fabian hit a liner up the middle to tie the game on the next pitch. Later in the frame, shortstop Jackson Merrill (No. 1 Padres prospect) smacked one of his season-high four hits to drive in Fabian, giving the TinCaps the lead, 3-2.
The Whitecaps tied the game in the fifth on right fielder Roberto Campos’s (No. 13 Tigers prospect) two-out hit. But the TinCaps again responded in the fifth when Cedeño collected a two-out RBI single of his own.
Fort Wayne added to its lead with designated hitter Marcos Castañon’s two-run double, scoring catcher Juan Zabala and Merrill, extending the advantage to 6-3.
But West Michigan responded with three runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game with a sacrifice fly and a pair of RBI singles. The visitors took the lead in the ninth on a two-out RBI triple by first baseman Austin Murr.
TinCaps right fielder Lucas Dunn began the last of the ninth with a line drive single before third baseman Graham Pauley (No. 30 Padres prospect) also tallied a single. A passed ball moved both into scoring position. Cedeño ended the game with a deep fly ball single to the warning track, scoring both.
For Cedeño, a 21-year-old from Venezuela who was signed by the Padres in 2018, it was the first four-hit game of his Minor League Baseball career.
The TinCaps have won three consecutive games and are 10-4 over their last 14. Fort Wayne leads the Midwest League East Division second half standings.
This marked the TinCaps’ third walk-off victory of the season. It was also the third time in their last five games that they came to bat for their final turn and went on to win.
Next Game: Wednesday, July 5 vs. West Michigan (7:05 p.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: LHP Austin Krob
- Whitecaps Probable Starter: RHP Wilkel Hernandez
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