August 15, 2019 at 4:06 p.m.
Playoff hopes diminishing
Fort Wayne TinCaps
Playoff hopes diminishing
LANSING, Mich. — Omar Cruz was solid on the mound.
Ethan Skender continued his tear at the plate.
It wasn’t enough to open the series with a win.
Cruz went a career-long six innings and Skender matched his career high of three hits and three RBIs but the Fort Wayne TinCaps allowed late runs in a 5-3 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts on Wednesday at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The loss further reduced the TinCaps’ chances of making the Midwest League playoffs.
Skender, who had 13 hits and was batting .361 in his previous 10 games, hit an RBI single in the first inning to score Michael Curry and put the TinCaps (21-30 second half, 54-65 overall) on top 1-0. After Lansing (27-24, 59-61) tied the game in the fourth with an unearned run, Skender put the ’Caps back on top with a two-out RBI double to score Justin Lopez.
Lansing, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, grabbed the lead with a three-run seventh inning and added one more run an inning later.
In the ninth, Skender hit his second double of the night — he had a pair of doubles on Tuesday as well — to pull Fort Wayne closer but it left the potential tying run on base.
Cruz scattered three hits over six frames of work, struck out seven and allowed just the one unearned run.
With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the TinCaps’ playoff hopes are dwindling.
The Great Lakes Loons lead the Midwest League Eastern Division with their 31-20 record this half. Since they won the first half, they already earned a playoff berth.
Therefore, the Bowling Green Hot Rods (30-21), who are defending MWL champions, have the second-best record behind the Loons and are in line to qualify for the playoffs. The South Bend Cubs (28-23) are two games behind the Hot Rods and currently hold the wild card spot over the Lugnuts by one game.
The TinCaps, who are 5-5 in their last 10 games, sit seven games behind the Cubs and have an elimination number of 13. In the last 19 contests, if the combination of South Bend wins and Fort Wayne losses totals 13, the TinCaps will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Fort Wayne hosts South Bend from Aug. 28 through 30 at Parkview Field.
Ethan Skender continued his tear at the plate.
It wasn’t enough to open the series with a win.
Cruz went a career-long six innings and Skender matched his career high of three hits and three RBIs but the Fort Wayne TinCaps allowed late runs in a 5-3 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts on Wednesday at Cooley Law School Stadium.
The loss further reduced the TinCaps’ chances of making the Midwest League playoffs.
Skender, who had 13 hits and was batting .361 in his previous 10 games, hit an RBI single in the first inning to score Michael Curry and put the TinCaps (21-30 second half, 54-65 overall) on top 1-0. After Lansing (27-24, 59-61) tied the game in the fourth with an unearned run, Skender put the ’Caps back on top with a two-out RBI double to score Justin Lopez.
Lansing, an affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays, grabbed the lead with a three-run seventh inning and added one more run an inning later.
In the ninth, Skender hit his second double of the night — he had a pair of doubles on Tuesday as well — to pull Fort Wayne closer but it left the potential tying run on base.
Cruz scattered three hits over six frames of work, struck out seven and allowed just the one unearned run.
With 19 games remaining in the regular season, the TinCaps’ playoff hopes are dwindling.
The Great Lakes Loons lead the Midwest League Eastern Division with their 31-20 record this half. Since they won the first half, they already earned a playoff berth.
Therefore, the Bowling Green Hot Rods (30-21), who are defending MWL champions, have the second-best record behind the Loons and are in line to qualify for the playoffs. The South Bend Cubs (28-23) are two games behind the Hot Rods and currently hold the wild card spot over the Lugnuts by one game.
The TinCaps, who are 5-5 in their last 10 games, sit seven games behind the Cubs and have an elimination number of 13. In the last 19 contests, if the combination of South Bend wins and Fort Wayne losses totals 13, the TinCaps will be mathematically eliminated from playoff contention.
Fort Wayne hosts South Bend from Aug. 28 through 30 at Parkview Field.
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