The TinCaps fought off a ninth-inning rally by the Lake County Captains to win, 6-4.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
7,900 TinCaps Fans Witness Win
By Derek DeckerFort Wayne, Indiana (July 22, 2023) – In front of a sellout crowd of 7,900 fans on Saturday night at Parkview Field, TinCaps right fielder Lucas Dunn smacked a two-run homer in the first inning while starting pitcher Victor Lizarraga (No. 7 Padres prospect) tossed five shutout innings, and Fort Wayne fought off a ninth-inning rally by the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Guardians affiliate) to win, 6-4.
First-place Fort Wayne (14-9, 46-43) got on the board first in the first inning with two outs when second baseman Graham Pauley (No. 30 Padres prospect) ripped a two-out double, scoring left fielder Nathan Martorella (No. 23 Padres prospect) after a single. Then Dunn launched his seventh bomb of the season to extend the lead to 3-0. Dunn was 2-for-4 in the contest.
In the fourth, catcher Anthony Vilar singled home third baseman Kervín Pichardo, who had drawn a two-out walk. The TinCaps led, 4-0. Vilar finished the game 2-for-4 with an RBI.
Lake County (10-13, 41-47) tallied their first run in the top of the seventh inning when right fielder Joe Lampe (No. 26 Guardians prospect) hit a two-out RBI double.
The TinCaps picked up a pair of insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth thanks to a two-run double with two outs from Pichardo.
The Captains got a solo homer in the top of the ninth by shortstop Milan Tolentino (No. 19 Guardians prospect). Later in the inning, first baseman Will Bartlett tallied and RBI single, then catcher Victor Planchart hit a run-scoring double, but the Captains stranded the tying run at second base.
Reliever Keegan Collett earned his team-high fifth save of the year for Fort Wayne.
Saturday marked the second straight sellout at Parkview Field and ninth of the season. It was also the third consecutive night with more than 7,300 fans in attendance. With an average of more than 5,000 fans per game this year, the TinCaps are out-drawing 22 Double-A teams.
Looking ahead, in addition to the typical Postgame Autographs presented by Midwest Box Breaks, Sunday is Nickelodeon PAW Patrol Day. Show characters Chase and Marshall will be in attendance, and the team will be wearing special uniforms that will be given away to select fans in attendance.
The TinCaps lead the Dayton Dragons by three games in the Midwest League East Division’s second-half postseason race.
Next Game: Sunday, July 23 vs. Lake County (1:05 p.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: LHP Bodi Rascon
- Captains Probable Starter: RHP Trenton Denholm
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