TinCaps let lead get away in series-finale loss to Lansing
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
For a good part of the game Sunday, the TinCaps seemed on their way to a series-clinching victory thanks to a second excellent start from reliever Matt Waldron within a week. The bats were clicking, the weather was warm and it was the first Sunday afternoon game at Parkview Field in 644 days, bringing back a mainstay event during Fort Wayne summers.
Then, the Lugnuts started hitting. A run in the sixth, two more in the seventh and four big tallies in the eighth sent to the TinCaps to a disappointing series split as they head out on the road to face South Bend beginning Tuesday.
TinCaps beat Lansing, 6-3, for second straight win
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
The TinCaps scratched and clawed for all of their runs and right-hander Gabe Mosser turned in a clutch long relief performance after an injury to help the TinCaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts for the second straight night at Parkview Field, 6-3.
How it Happened
The key inning was Fort Wayne s half of the sixth, in which the TinCaps scored three times without a single hard-hit ball after entering the frame trailing 3-2. Tirso Ornelas started the uprising with a fought-off blooper down the left-field line that landed barely fair and turned into a double. It was a long time coming for Ornelas, who came into the game with an unlucky .207 batting average on balls in play.
TinCaps suffer first loss of season
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
The TinCaps lost for the first time in 2021 tonight, letting an early lead slip away in the first really rough inning of the season for the Fort Wayne pitching staff.
The 6-3 loss to West Michigan that kept the TinCaps from improving to 3-0 for the first time since 2013 seemed of lesser importance, however, after watching right-hander Anderson Espinoza make his triumphant return to the mound.
Espinoza, pitching for the first time in more than 1,700 days, was lights-out, throwing 17 strikes among his 26 pitches, touching 97 mph with his fastball and locating his off-speed pitches. He struck out three in two shutout innings, walking none and giving up only a broken-bat flare single. It was the latest step on his long recovery after two Tommy John surgeries in four seasons.
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FORT WAYNE, Ind. The highest-rated San Diego Padres prospect on the 2021 TinCaps roster threw in his first game in over 1,700 days, and didn t disappoint. Anderson Espinoza showcased his blistering fastball and plus command through two scoreless innings, but Fort Wayne fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 6-3.
FORT WAYNE, Ind. The highest-rated San Diego Padres prospect on the 2021 TinCaps roster threw in his first game in over 1,700 days, and didn t disappoint.
Anderson Espinoza showcased his blistering fastball and plus command through two scoreless innings, but Fort Wayne fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 6-3.
Across his two scheduled innings of work, Espinoza allowed just one hit and walked none while striking out three. The 23-year-old Venezuelan reached 97 miles-per-hour with his fastball in his first Minor League appearance since August 31, 2016 after multiple Tommy John surgeries.
TinCaps fall to West Michigan, 6-3, in Espinoza s return
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
The TinCaps dropped their first game of the season, falling to West Michigan 6-3 at Parkview Field after the Whitecaps pushed across five runs in the seventh inning, helped along by a badly blown call. TinCaps right-hander Anderson Espinoza pitched for the first time since 2016.
How it Happened
The teams entered the seventh locked in a 1-1 pitcher s duel, but that ended during a wild inning that took nearly 58 minutes to play. In the top half of the inning, Sam Keating became the first Fort Wayne pitcher this season to really let the game get away from him. A double, catcher s interference and a walk loaded the bases with nobody out and that s when the proceedings got weird.