{"id":118336,"date":"2023-04-06T22:00:33","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T02:00:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=118336"},"modified":"2025-06-15T09:59:04","modified_gmt":"2025-06-15T13:59:04","slug":"tincaps-recap-west-michigan-1-fort-wayne-0","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2023\/04\/06\/tincaps-recap-west-michigan-1-fort-wayne-0\/","title":{"rendered":"TinCaps ReCap: West Michigan 1, Fort Wayne 0"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Jairo Iriarte fanned six in his start on the bump for the TinCaps, but Ben Malgeri\u2019s two-out solo homer in the second inning proved to be the difference, as West Michigan blanked Fort Wayne 1-0 at LMCU Ballpark Thursday night.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:<\/p>\n

TinCaps Pitching Impresses on Opening Day<\/strong>
\nBy Derek Decker<\/em><\/p>\n

Comstock Park, Michigan (April 6, 2023) \u2013 Jairo Iriarte fanned six in his start on the bump for the TinCaps, but Ben Malgeri\u2019s two-out solo homer in the second inning proved to be the difference, as West Michigan blanked Fort Wayne 1-0 at LMCU Ballpark Thursday night.<\/p>\n

Iriarte touched the upper 90s with his fastball and commanded the strike zone, needing 51 pitches to span three innings.<\/p>\n

Nick Thwaits was solid in relief for the TinCaps, too. He spun three innings of one-hit ball, racking up four strikeouts along the way and wiggling out of a jam in the fourth inning.<\/p>\n

West Michigan didn\u2019t have a hit past the fourth inning. Alan Mundo came in for the final two frames on the bump for Fort Wayne and quickly sat down six straight Whitecaps with only 20 pitches, 16 of which were strikes.<\/p>\n

Catcher Brandon Valenzuela reached twice for the \u2018Caps with a single and a hit-by-pitch, and center fielder Jakob Marsee also reached twice with a single and a walk.<\/p>\n

First-year TinCaps manager Jonathan Mathews was aggressive on the bases, as Marsee and right fielder Joshua Mears each swiped a bag. But Fort Wayne couldn\u2019t get a timely hit, going 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.<\/p>\n

Box Score<\/a><\/p>\n

Next Game<\/strong>: Friday, April 7 @ West Michigan Whitecaps (12:05 p.m.) <\/p>\n