The TinCaps are finally back home. It was a difficult road trip for Fort Wayne, which has not played at Parkview Field in 10 days. Since falling to We .
TinCaps beat Lansing, 13-1, to open series
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
Agustin Ruiz parked a pair of home runs, including his second grand slam of the season, and the TinCaps offense got untracked with a 13-1 win over Lansing in the opener of a six-game series at Parkview Field tonight.
How it Happened
The TinCaps got their groove back with patience, opportunism and plenty of power. Fort Wayne walked 11 times in its first game of the season, but since then had averaged just 3.4 bases on balls per contest, slipping to 10th in High-A Central overall. That trend reversed tonight as the TinCaps drew 10 walks, including several in opportune moments.
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.
TinCaps beat West Michigan, 4-2, improve to 2-0
DYLAN SINN | The Journal Gazette
Luis Almanzar ripped a two-run single to center in the sixth and the TinCaps pitching dominated for a second straight night as Fort Wayne won 4-2 in the second of a six-game series against West Michigan.
How it Happened
After a three-run homer from Justin Lopez and a Kelvin Melean three-run triple in Tuesday s opener, Fort Wayne 0 for its first 6 with runners in scoring position tonight, preventing the hosts from taking advantage of some early opportunities. Twice in the first five innings the TinCaps put the first two runners on base, but they were only able to get one run combined out of those opportunities and that came when Melean grounded into a double play in the third. In the fifth, Jawuan Harris struck out with runners on second and third and one out and Melean grounded sharply back to the pitcher to end the threat.