News release from the TinCaps:
Fort Wayne drops opener in Clinton
(April 11, 2014) Clinton, Iowa – The TinCaps dropped their second straight on their West Division road trip Friday night, as they fell to the Clinton LumberKings, 7-1. Starting pitcher Pete Kelich struck out seven batters in the loss.
Clinton (5-3) jumped out to a 1-0 first inning lead before an out was recorded. Ian Miller singled, stole second base, and came home on a run-scoring single by Marcus Littlewood.
Fort Wayne (2-6) responded immediately to tie the game, 1-1, in the top of the second. Third baseman Fernando Perez poked a double to right field. He advanced to third base on a fly out by Jose Carlos Urena, and then scored on a Luis Tejada sacrifice fly.
The LumberKings took control in the third inning, though, when the TinCaps’ defense betrayed Kelich (0-2). The righty from New Jersey retired eight in a row after Clinton’s first run, but then gave up consecutive singles to Littlewood and Jack Reinheimer. That brought up cleanup batter Austin Wilson, who hit a grounder to shortstop Franchy Cordero which could’ve ended the inning. Instead, Cordero’s throw to first went awry, allowing Littlewood to score and make it 2-1. Tyler O’Neil followed with an RBI single to increase Clinton’s lead to 3-1.
Th TinCaps went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and never mounted a serious threat against LumberKings starter Carlos Misell (2-0), who lasted 5 2/3 innings, or reliever Mark Bordonaro (1), who registered the save with 3 1/3 innings of work.
Meanwhile, the LumberKings were 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position and added one run in the fifth, another in the seventh, and two more in the eighth.
Fort Wayne hopes to rebound Saturday afternoon with right-hander Jimmi Brasoban on the mound against Clinton lefty Jake Zokan. First pitch for the middle game of the series is slated for 3:00 EDT at Ashford University Field. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380.
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