Late magic lifts TinCaps

SOUTH BEND — Another strong offensive output and some late-inning magic was key for the Fort Wayne TinCaps in a 12-6 win over the South Bend Cubs on Thursday at Four Winds Field.

Agustiin Ruiz broke a 6-6 tie in the top of the seventh inning with a go-ahead sacrifice fly to score Tucupita Marcano, who reached on a double.

One frame later, the TinCaps plated five runs, highlighted by a two-run single by Dwanya Williams-Sutton a day after his 14-game on-base streak was snapped. Marcano and Ruiz both drew bases-loaded walks in the inning, and Ruiz scored on a South Bend (Chicago Cubs) throwing error.

Fort Wayne, which banged a season-high 14 hits, scored once in the top of the first inning on Marcano’s first home run of the season, only to have South Bend (10-10) tie the game in the home half and take a 5-1 lead at the end of the second.

Xavier Edwards and Grant Little both knocked home a run in the top of the third, and the TinCaps took a short-lived 6-5 lead with three runs in the fourth. Edwards and Marcano both had RBI singles, and Edwards reached home on a wild pitch.

South Bend notched its final run in the home half of the fourth.

Edwards and Marcano both doubled, singled and drew walks. Marcano had a team-high three RBIs. Ruiz and Williams-Sutton both contributed a pair of hits.

Jose Quezada picked up the win in relief. He struck out four and allowed one hit in 1 2/3 innings of scoreless work. Carlos Belen, Tom Colletti and Quezada combined to strike out six with no walks in 4 2/3 innings in support of starter Gabe Mosser.

The TinCaps and Cubs continue their four-game set at 7:35 p.m. tonight, with Fort Wayne righty Joey Cantillo and South Bend left-hander Faustino Carrera the probable starters.