News release from the TinCaps:
Well-Rounded Effort a Winning Formula for TinCaps
(July 24, 2014) – It’s always good to have insurance, and in most cases the law says it’s required. Thursday night the TinCaps found out why, as an eighth-inning insurance run proved to be just enough cushion in a 3-2 series-tying win against the Beloit Snappers.
Jake Bauers grounded out in the eighth inning, but also drove in a run to put Fort Wayne (12-20, 42-59) in prime position to take game two of a three-game set. His 50th RBI of 2014 made 3-1 leaders of the TinCaps, giving them what they’d need for their first home win since July 14th.
Ryan Butler, Fort Wayne’s new closer in the wake of Nick Mutz being moved up to Advanced-A Lake Elsinore, allowed a leadoff double to B.A. Vollmuth, who eventually came in to score, making it 3-2. Butler budged no further, though, and earned his third save in as many tries.
Beloit (10-22, 40-62) starter Junior Mendez (2-6) went five innings for the 10th straight game, but made two mistakes that the TinCaps were waiting for. Luis Tejada hit a first-pitch fastball down the left field line for a home run in the fifth, tying the game at 1, and Fernando Perez led off the sixth with a home run, making it 2-1, TinCaps.
Fort Wayne starter Cody Hebner worked five innings and was sharp, allowing just two hits and one run over five innings. He struck out five and walked three. Justin Livengood (5-1) notched the win throwing three innings of one-hit ball.
The finale of the series is scheduled for Friday night at 7:05 p.m. The pitching matchup pits Fort Wayne’s Kyle Lloyd against Beloit’s Hunter Adkins. The game can be seen on XFINITY 81 and heard on ESPN Radio 1380 and TinCaps.com.