'Caps Batter Bees, 12-1

July 12, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

BURLINGTON, Iowa - The TinCaps broke out of an offensive slump in a big way on Friday night at Community Field, as Fort Wayne ended a three-game skid with an emphatic 12-1 win over the Burlington Bees (Los Angeles Angels affiliate). The Bees previously had won five in a row.

After scoring only one run on 10 hits in their previous three games, with just one extra-base hit, the 'Caps erupted for 15 hits, including two doubles and two home runs. Fort Wayne (7-14, 40-49) matched its season high for both runs and hits. The TinCaps last scored 12 runs, and had 15 hits, at Great Lakes on May 26 in a 10-run victory. The 11-run disparity on Friday night marked a new season best.

Meanwhile, 'Caps starting pitcher Omar Cruz, a 20-year-old left-hander from Mexico, struck out 10 batters in 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball. For Cruz, a second-year pro, it was the third time in his career he struck out 10 hitters, and the first time he did it through three starts in the Midwest League. Cruz joins Joey Cantillo as the only other TinCaps pitcher to strike out 10 in a game this season. Cantillo accomplished the task on June 20 at Great Lakes.

After Cruz, righty Austin Smith spun 3 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the save. Over the last six games, Fort Wayne's bullpen has worked 24 2/3 innings without allowing an earned run (and just two unearned runs in the span).

Catcher Juan Fernandez started the scoring for the TinCaps with a two-out, three-run homer to dead-center field in the top of the first inning against lefty Hector Yan, the Angels' No. 27 prospect. It was Fernandez's first home run of the season.

Each side scored a run in the second. Then in the fourth, 'Caps left fielder Michael Curry belted a two-run homer to left field, his sixth homer of the season. Yan, who leads the MWL in strikeouts, had allowed only two home runs in his first 70 innings of the season before allowing a pair to the TinCaps and exiting the game after 3 1/3 innings.

Fort Wayne kept its foot on the gas with an RBI double from DH Dwanya Williams-Sutton in the fifth. The TinCaps put up another run in the seventh, two in the eighth, and a couple more in the ninth, including a Curry RBI single.

Shortstop Tucupita Marcano, right fielder Agustin Ruiz, and Curry had three hits apiece.

Next Game

Saturday, July 13 @ Clinton (7:30 p.m.)

- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Efraín Contreras

- LumberKings Probable Starter: RHP Josh Roberson

Listen: ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com | TuneIn

Midwest League Stories from July 12, 2019

• Hot Rods Fall 5-4 and Suffer Sweep to Snappers - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Cougars Offense Explodes in South Bend Demolition - Kane County Cougars
• Captains Escape Clinton with Narrow Win - Lake County Captains
• 'Caps Batter Bees, 12-1 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Cougars Power Past Cubs 10-1 in Series Finale - South Bend Cubs
• Fort Wayne Smashes Bees' Streak - Burlington Bees
• Distillers Drop Close One Friday - Peoria Chiefs
• Ninth Inning Rally Falls One Run Short - Clinton LumberKings
• Manzanero's Home Run Is Not Enough as Dragons Fall to Wisconsin, 4-2 - Dayton Dragons
• Pitching Propels Loons to Series Sweep - Great Lakes Loons
• River Bandits Win Rubber Match in West Michigan 6-2 - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Loons Lift off for Shutout, Series Sweep - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Wisconsin Beats Dragons 4-2 to Take Series - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• TinCaps Game Notes: July 12 at Burlington (Game 89) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Border Battle Returns to Dow Diamond - Great Lakes Loons
• Dragons Notes for Friday - Dayton Dragons

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