Third basemen Justin Lopez smashed an eighth inning home run with the bases loaded to help the Fort Wayne TinCaps to a 4-3 win over the South Bend Cubs on Sunday afternoon.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
Lopez’s Grand Slam Powers Comeback Win
By Ben ShulmanFort Wayne, Indiana (April 17, 2022) – Third basemen Justin Lopez smashed an eighth inning home run with the bases loaded to help the Fort Wayne TinCaps to a 4-3 win over the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs affiliate) on Sunday afternoon.
Lopez, a switch-hitter batting from the left side, pulled a high fly ball into the right field corner off of Cubs reliever Bailey Reid. The third basemen’s blast scored Joshua Mears, Brandon Valenzuela, and Jarryd Dale, all of whom reached base multiple times in the game.
With the victory, the ‘Caps also claimed the series, winning four of six.
Mears kickstarted the offense in the bottom of the first with a single to center field. He hustled to avoid a double play, reaching on a fielder’s choice in the eighth before the decisive home run.
Valenzuela singled in the sixth inning and walked in the eighth. The catcher increased his team-leading on-base percentage to .483. Valenzuela in second on the team in walks with nine, Corey Rosier leads all ‘Caps with 11 after a pair of free passes in the game.
Dale also earned two walks, including before the Lopez grand slam. The shortstop also made a handful of dazzling defensive plays such as a shoe-string catch on a line drive in the sixth inning.
Fort Wayne was kept in the game by a solid start from Noel Vela. The southpaw pitched 3 and 2/3 innings without surrendering a run. Vela struck out five Cubs and only gave up two hits.
Side-armer Alek Jacob entered the game in the top of the seventh with the TinCaps trailing 3-0. Jacob proceeded to strike out five batters in 2 and 1/3 innings and earned the win in relief.
Next Game: Tuesday, April 19 @ Lansing Lugnuts (6:05 p.m.)
- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: RHP Adam Smith
- Lansing Probable Starter: RHP Joey Estes
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