Starting pitcher Robby Snelling impressed in his Parkview Field debut, but West Michigan won, 3-1, on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,448 fans.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
Snelling Shines, But Winning Streak Ends at 6
By Derek DeckerFort Wayne, Indiana (July 8, 2023) – Starting pitcher Robby Snelling (No. 4 Padres prospect) impressed in his Parkview Field debut, but West Michigan won, 3-1, on Saturday night in front of a crowd of 6,448 fans. The loss ended Fort Wayne’s six-game winning streak, the longest for the club since June 24-28, 2018.
Saturday’s game was part of the TinCaps’ Hispanic Heritage Series. Both teams took on alternate identities, with Fort Wayne playing as Las Manzanas Luchadoras (“The Fighting Apples” in Spanish) and the Whitecaps as Cavaleras (“Skulls”). They both had themed jerseys and hats.
Snelling allowed just one earned run and struck out five over 5 2/3 innings, matching a career-long in his rookie campaign.
West Michigan (6-8, 38-41) opened the scoring in the top of the sixth when catcher Eliezer Alfonso ripped a two-out single, scoring center fielder Roberto Campos (No. 13 Tigers prospect).
But Fort Wayne (10-4, 42-38) immediately responded with a run of its own in the bottom of the sixth. Following shortstop Nerwilian Cedeño’s (No. 12 Padres prospect) two-out triple, second baseman Marcos Castañon looped a single to right on the next pitch, tying the game, 1-1. Castañon finished the game 2-for-4 with a double.
In the eighth, the Whitecaps regained the lead, scoring twice on four hits. Alfonso hit the go-ahead single and West Michigan added another with shortstop Izaac Pacheco’s (No. 12 Tigers prospect) RBI hit, making it 3-1.
Fort Wayne was without shortstop Jackson Merrill (No. 1 Padres prospect), who was playing in the SiriusXM All-Star Futures Game in Seattle. Former TinCaps pitcher Joey Cantillo (No. 15 Guardians prospect) also pitched in the game.
Next Game: Sunday, July 9 vs. West Michigan (1:05 p.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Victor Lizarraga (No. 7 Padres prospect)
- Whitecaps Probable Starter: TBD
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