{"id":118675,"date":"2023-07-25T23:00:07","date_gmt":"2023-07-26T03:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=118675"},"modified":"2025-06-18T13:55:35","modified_gmt":"2025-06-18T17:55:35","slug":"tincaps-recap-fort-wayne-4-west-michigan-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2023\/07\/25\/tincaps-recap-fort-wayne-4-west-michigan-1\/","title":{"rendered":"TinCaps ReCap: Fort Wayne 4, West Michigan 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The TinCaps beat the West Michigan Whitecaps, 4-1, on Tuesday night in the opener of their series.<\/p>\n

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

Snelling Shoves, While Martorella and Fabian Homer in Road Win<\/strong><\/p>\n

Comstock Park, Michigan (July 25, 2023) – Robby Snelling threw six shutout innings, while first baseman Nathan Martorella and designated hitter Albert Fabian homered as the TinCaps beat the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers affiliate), 4-1, on Tuesday night in the opener of their series.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old rookie left-hander went a career-long six innings and matched his career best with nine strikeouts. Mixing a fastball, curveball, and changeup, Snelling threw 87 pitches, 63 of which were strikes (72%). He scattered four singles and no walks.<\/p>\n

For the first two innings, MLB.com’s third-highest ranked left-handed pitching prospect was dueling against 30-year-old Spencer Turnbull, a starting pitcher for the Tigers who’s rehabbing a neck injury. Snelling received help from Lucas Dunn in the second as the right fielder caught a fly ball hit by Josh Crouch that may’ve cleared the right-field fence for a home run.<\/p>\n

Turnbull, in his first game action since pitching for Detroit against St. Louis on May 6, tossed two scoreless innings. TinCaps left fielder Kai Murphy, who was promoted from Single-A Lake Elsinore ahead of the game, led off with a double. In the second, second baseman Nerwilian Cede\u00f1o (No. 12 Padres prospect) knocked a two-out triple. But Turnbulll, who threw a no-hitter for the Tigers against the Mariners in 2021, stranded both runners. He’s expected to start Sunday as well in the finale of this six-game set.<\/p>\n

Wilkel Hernandez followed and struck out eight over five frames. However, he made a mistake against Martorella (No. 23 Padres prospect) to begin the fourth. The left-handed batter ripped his Midwest League-leading 15th homer. Martorella is also pacing the circuit in RBIs with 65.<\/p>\n

After Snelling, Carter Loewen preserved the 1-0 lead in the seventh and eighth.<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne (15-10, 47-44) added three insurance runs in the ninth. That included a two-run homer to right-center field belted by Fabian, who had doubled earlier. It was his second homer in 18 games with the team this year.<\/p>\n

West Michigan (11-14, 43-47) rallied for a run in its half of the ninth, but Keegan Collett recorded the final three outs.<\/p>\n

The TinCaps continue to lead the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds affiliate) by two games in the East Division’s second-half postseason race. The regular season runs through Sept. 10.<\/p>\n

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

Next Game<\/strong>: Wednesday, July 26 @ West Michigan (12:05 p.m.)<\/p>\n