MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

Carroll, Castro Power TinCaps Over Whitecaps, 9-5

Published on June 14, 2009 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Comstock Park, MI - The Fort Wayne TinCaps pounded out 14 hits and Simon Castro delivered six shutout innings in a 9-5 triumph over the West Michigan Whitecaps, Sunday at Fifth Third Field in a battle of the top two teams in the Midwest League. Sawyer Carroll went 4-for-5 and finished a home run shy of the cycle.

With the win, the TinCaps cut their magic number to one. The next Fort Wayne win or Great Lakes loss would give Fort Wayne its first playoff berth since 2006. Fort Wayne also tied the franchise record for wins in a half with 41; the only other time they reached that milestone was in 1998. The TinCaps have won nine straight games.

The TinCaps jumped ahead in the top of the 2nd against highly-touted Whitecaps LHP Casey Crosby when Carroll ripped a leadoff triple to the alley in right-center. Three batters later, Kevin Hansen dumped a two-out single to left to make it 1-0.

In the top of the 3rd, Jaff Decker walked and James Darnell doubled to put runners at second and third with nobody out. Two batters later, Carroll drilled a single to right to double the lead to 2-0. Robert Lara followed with a sacrifice fly and Cole Figueroa punched an RBI single to left for his first TinCaps hit to make it 4-0.

The TinCaps blew it open in the 5th as the first five batters reached. After a Darnell single, Matt Clark yanked a double into the right-field corner to push the lead to 5-0. Carroll followed suit with another two-bagger to make it 6-0 and Lara made it three straight doubles when he found the gap in left-center to balloon the lead to 7-0. A run-scoring double play later in the inning made it 8-0.

In the 6th, Carroll drove in Darnell with a two-out single to extend the margin to 9-0. Meanwhile, Castro did not allow a run in six innings, yielding six hits and a walk while tying a career high with nine strikeouts.

The Whitecaps got to reliever Stiven Osuna for four runs in the 7th. Brandon Douglas had the big blow, a three-run double into the left-field corner. Ronnie Bourquin hit an RBI double in the 9th to close the scoring.

Castro (4-4) picked up the win; he has won his last two starts. Osuna grabbed his first save of the year. Crosby (4-3) took the loss as he allowed four runs in three innings.

The TinCaps improved to 41-22, two games in front of West Michigan. The Whitecaps fell to 39-24.

The TinCaps and Whitecaps continue the four-game series Monday in a 7:05pm start at Fifth Third Field. Fort Wayne LHP Nick Schmidt (3-0) is the projected starter against West Michigan RHP Mark Sorensen (1-2).

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 14, 2009


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