July 6, 2018 at 5:02 p.m.
Ten-four, good buddy
TinCaps score four in 10th inning for fourth straight win
Ten-four, good buddy
FORT WAYNE — The TinCaps could only watch as Brock Carpenter’s three-run blast put the Loons out front in the top of the 10th inning.
Great Lakes did the same as they failed to record an out when the game turned over to the bottom of the frame.
The Fort Wayne TinCaps scored four runs, the last on a walk-off walk with bases loaded, Thursday in a come-from-behind 6-5 victory in 10 innings over the Great Lakes Loons at Parkview Field.
“We were just trying to get baserunners on,” said TinCaps manager Anthony Contreras, whose team completed the three-game sweep of the Loons, pushed its winning streak to four straight and has won 11 of its last 13 games. Coupled with a Lansing Lugnuts loss, the TinCaps (11-4, 43-41) moved into first place in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division second-half standings.
“Obviously we knew we had some ground to make up,” Contreras continued. “I was just preaching, just get on base. We needed to get on base. We needed runners on to be able to do that.
“I wanted these guys to not do too much at the plate.”
Great Lakes (1-14, 25-58), an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers that has lost five in a row and 18 of its last 19, grabbed a 5-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning after being no-hit by TinCaps starter Luis Patiño for 5 2/3 frames.
Minor League Baseball rules permit the player in the batting order ahead of the leadoff hitter to begin any extra inning on second base. Devin Mann represented that player for the Loons.
Great Lakes did the same as they failed to record an out when the game turned over to the bottom of the frame.
The Fort Wayne TinCaps scored four runs, the last on a walk-off walk with bases loaded, Thursday in a come-from-behind 6-5 victory in 10 innings over the Great Lakes Loons at Parkview Field.
“We were just trying to get baserunners on,” said TinCaps manager Anthony Contreras, whose team completed the three-game sweep of the Loons, pushed its winning streak to four straight and has won 11 of its last 13 games. Coupled with a Lansing Lugnuts loss, the TinCaps (11-4, 43-41) moved into first place in the Midwest League’s Eastern Division second-half standings.
“Obviously we knew we had some ground to make up,” Contreras continued. “I was just preaching, just get on base. We needed to get on base. We needed runners on to be able to do that.
“I wanted these guys to not do too much at the plate.”
Great Lakes (1-14, 25-58), an affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers that has lost five in a row and 18 of its last 19, grabbed a 5-2 lead in the top of the 10th inning after being no-hit by TinCaps starter Luis Patiño for 5 2/3 frames.
Minor League Baseball rules permit the player in the batting order ahead of the leadoff hitter to begin any extra inning on second base. Devin Mann represented that player for the Loons.
Romer Cuadrado bounced out to Gabrial Arias at short to move Mann to third, and Luke Heyer walked to put runners at the corners for Great Lakes.
Carpenter, the Loons’ designated hitter, blasted 2-1 pitch from Evan Miller deep into the bleachers in right field to put Great Lakes out on top.
“Nobody wants to give up a three-run bomb,” Contreras said. “If we’re going to give it up I’d rather give up now when we’re playing this well.
“It’s not good to be on the other side. I’ve been on the other side when things aren’t going our way. Credit to the guys to keep your head up, go about your business and be professionals and they got rewarded today with the walk off.”
Jack Suwinski, who had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning but flied out to deep right center with a man on, started the 10th on second for Fort Wayne.
Robbie Podorsky drew a four-pitch walk off Dan Jagiello, and Suwinski scored on a soft grounder up the middle by Esteury Ruiz. Mann’s throwing error to first in an attempt to cut off Ruiz was off target, allowing Podorsky and Ruiz to move up one base each.
Tirso Ornelas singled to right field to score Podorsky, giving the TinCaps runners at the corners, and Luis Campusano followed with a fielder’s choice that scored Ruiz.
Juan Fernandez bunted to Jagiello, who did not make a throw on the play, as the TinCaps loaded the bases with no outs.
Justin Lopez, the youngest player in the Midwest League, worked Jagiello to a full count and fouled off the sixth offering.
The seventh pitch of the at bat missed high, allowing Ornelas to score from third and give the TinCaps the win.
“Everybody did their part,” Contreras said. “Fernandez puts the bunt down, Lopez was very patient — I think he swung out of the zone one time, but that situation right there it’s tough for a young kid. You’ve got a lot of noise, you’ve got a lot of pressure, the game is on the line.
“He did a good job of staying patient and got us the win.”
Although Patiño did not factor into the decision, the 18-year-old right-hander from Colombia had another stellar outing. He struck out a career-high eight and walked three. He allowed one unearned run, and has given up one earned run or fewer in seven of his nine starts this year for a 2.55 ERA.
“He was just overpowering guys with his fastball,” Contreras said. “He had a good changeup today too. When you’ve got a good changeup to complement the power fastball he has, people have to respect the fastball. And if you can locate your changeup it gets guys off balance.
“He was able to do that and mix in his slider well.”
Ruiz led the TinCaps’ 11-hit effort with three singles, as Podorsky, Fernandez and Ornelas also had multi-hit games. Miller tossed two innings of relief and was credited with the win.
“Things are starting to click,” said Contreras, whose team hosts the Bowling Green Hot Rods (9-6, 56-28) for a four-game series starting tonight. “Guys are not panicking up there regardless if we get down or teams come back. They are playing good baseball.”
Carpenter, the Loons’ designated hitter, blasted 2-1 pitch from Evan Miller deep into the bleachers in right field to put Great Lakes out on top.
“Nobody wants to give up a three-run bomb,” Contreras said. “If we’re going to give it up I’d rather give up now when we’re playing this well.
“It’s not good to be on the other side. I’ve been on the other side when things aren’t going our way. Credit to the guys to keep your head up, go about your business and be professionals and they got rewarded today with the walk off.”
Jack Suwinski, who had a chance to end the game in the bottom of the ninth inning but flied out to deep right center with a man on, started the 10th on second for Fort Wayne.
Robbie Podorsky drew a four-pitch walk off Dan Jagiello, and Suwinski scored on a soft grounder up the middle by Esteury Ruiz. Mann’s throwing error to first in an attempt to cut off Ruiz was off target, allowing Podorsky and Ruiz to move up one base each.
Tirso Ornelas singled to right field to score Podorsky, giving the TinCaps runners at the corners, and Luis Campusano followed with a fielder’s choice that scored Ruiz.
Juan Fernandez bunted to Jagiello, who did not make a throw on the play, as the TinCaps loaded the bases with no outs.
Justin Lopez, the youngest player in the Midwest League, worked Jagiello to a full count and fouled off the sixth offering.
The seventh pitch of the at bat missed high, allowing Ornelas to score from third and give the TinCaps the win.
“Everybody did their part,” Contreras said. “Fernandez puts the bunt down, Lopez was very patient — I think he swung out of the zone one time, but that situation right there it’s tough for a young kid. You’ve got a lot of noise, you’ve got a lot of pressure, the game is on the line.
“He did a good job of staying patient and got us the win.”
Although Patiño did not factor into the decision, the 18-year-old right-hander from Colombia had another stellar outing. He struck out a career-high eight and walked three. He allowed one unearned run, and has given up one earned run or fewer in seven of his nine starts this year for a 2.55 ERA.
“He was just overpowering guys with his fastball,” Contreras said. “He had a good changeup today too. When you’ve got a good changeup to complement the power fastball he has, people have to respect the fastball. And if you can locate your changeup it gets guys off balance.
“He was able to do that and mix in his slider well.”
Ruiz led the TinCaps’ 11-hit effort with three singles, as Podorsky, Fernandez and Ornelas also had multi-hit games. Miller tossed two innings of relief and was credited with the win.
“Things are starting to click,” said Contreras, whose team hosts the Bowling Green Hot Rods (9-6, 56-28) for a four-game series starting tonight. “Guys are not panicking up there regardless if we get down or teams come back. They are playing good baseball.”
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