{"id":119691,"date":"2022-04-19T10:00:30","date_gmt":"2022-04-19T14:00:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/?p=119691"},"modified":"2025-07-10T14:23:54","modified_gmt":"2025-07-10T18:23:54","slug":"tincaps-recap-fort-wayne-10-lansing-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aroundfortwayne.com\/news\/2022\/04\/19\/tincaps-recap-fort-wayne-10-lansing-3\/","title":{"rendered":"TinCaps ReCap: Fort Wayne 10, Lansing 3"},"content":{"rendered":"

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The Fort Wayne TinCaps triumphed over the Lansing Lugnuts, 10-3, on Tuesday evening at Jackson Field in Lansing, Michigan.<\/p>\n

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

Valenzuela and Mears Play Smash Brothers in Win Over A\u2019s Affiliate<\/strong>
\nBy Ben Shulman<\/em><\/p>\n

Lansing, Michigan (April 19, 2022) \u2013 The Fort Wayne TinCaps triumphed over the Lansing Lugnuts (Oakland Athletics affiliate), 10-3, on Tuesday evening at Jackson Field in Lansing, Michigan. Five RBIs from Brandon Valenzuela and three extra-base hits from Joshua Mears led the way.<\/p>\n

The TinCaps’ bats wasted no time, scoring in the first inning. Corey Rosier was hit by a pitch in the game\u2019s first plate appearance. Three batters later, Valenzuela smashed a ball to center field and came all the way around to score for an inside-the-park home run. The catcher became the first Fort Wayne batter to hit an inside-the-parker since Jeisson Rosario hit one at Parkview Field on April 9, 2018, also against Lansing.<\/p>\n

The TinCaps continued to pepper extra-base hits all over Jackson Field. Mears made his first impact with a double off the left-field wall in the top of the third that had an exit velocity of 116 miles per hour.<\/p>\n

Fort Wayne hit back-to-back-to-back doubles in sixth inning to extend its lead. Robert Hassell III\u2019s double to center field set up a Mears double, once again to left field, that gave the right fielder his first RBI on the night. Valenzuela capped it off with a double to right field, punching in Mears for his third RBI. The \u2018Caps led 4-1 after 5 and \u00bd innings.<\/p>\n

After Lansing charged back with two runs in the bottom half of the sixth, Mears once again crushed a ball in the eighth. This time it left the park for a solo home run that made the score 5-3. The long-ball was Mears\u2019 team-leading third home run of the season.<\/p>\n

The \u2019Caps batted around and added five more insurance runs in the top of ninth. Valenzuela capitalized on the opportunity to get more RBIs, driving in two runs on a single to center field. Rosier, Hassell and Justin Lopez also knocked in runners in the final frame.<\/p>\n

While the bats were resting, starter Adam Smith went nearly perfect in his three innings of work. One of the lone blemishes Smith had was a walk to Lansing outfielder Lawrence Butler in home-half of the first. The right-hander immediately made up for it, inducing a ground ball that shortstop Jarryd Dale converted into a 6-4-3 double play. Smith ended the day with a pair of strikeouts, the lone walk to Butler, and one hit allowed.<\/p>\n

Lefty reliever Ryan Och earned the save despite the lopsided score. Och entered in the bottom of the eighth inning with the on-deck hitter representing the tying run. The southpaw struck out four in two scoreless innings.<\/p>\n

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

Next Game<\/strong>: Wednesday, April 20 @ Lansing Lugnuts (6:05 p.m.)<\/p>\n