Five-run rally in 1st leads to 10-2 Win

August 19, 2011 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

FORT WAYNE, IN - A five-run rally in the bottom of the first inning allowed Fort Wayne to erase an early 1-0 deficit against West Michigan on Friday night, and the TinCaps to defeat the Whitecaps by a score of 10-2, in front of 7,884 at Parkview Field.

For the third straight game, West Michigan scored the first run of the game, each time in the top of the first inning; this time on Jeff Rowland's fourth home run of the season, a one-out solo blast off Fort Wayne starting pitcher Keyvius Sampson.

For the third straight game, the TinCaps rallied from the early deficit to take the lead; as they sent nine batters to the plate in the bottom of the first against Whitecap starter Kevin Eichhorn and scored five runs; the key hits being a run-scoring single by Luis Domoromo and a two-run single by B.J. Guinn.

They took advantage of an RBI-double by Connor Powers and a sacrifice fly off the bat of Rocky Gale to score two more runs in the third inning; and combined three singles and a double to touch home plate two more times in the bottom of the fourth inning in taking a commanding 9-1 lead.

West Michigan scored a run in the top of the fifth inning off Sampson to close to within 9-2, but doubles from both Gale and Cory Spangenberg put Fort Wayne ahead by a score of 10-2.

Relief pitchers Deiber Sanchez, Robert Lara, and Chris Franklin combined to shut out the Whitecaps over the final four innings to preserve the win.

Sampson (10-2) was the winning pitcher, while Eichhorn (9-5) was charged with the defeat.

The win by the TinCaps was their 11th in the last 14 they have played, and, coupled with a 3-2 loss by Great Lakes to Dayton, strengthened their hold on second place (and a playoff spot) in the Eastern Division.

Fort Wayne now heads to Eastlake, OH to take on Lake County in a four-game series. In Saturday night's series opener, the TinCaps will send southpaw Todd Privett (2-2, 3.86) to the mound, while the Captains are expected to start right hander Felix Sterling (2-3, 4.53).

Midwest League Stories from August 19, 2011

• Five-run rally in 1st leads to 10-2 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Kernels snap streak with 5-3 win over Burlington - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Lugs feel grand in snapping losing streak - Lansing Lugnuts
• Kings Edge Bandits in Battle of the Aces - Clinton LumberKings
• Clinton takes early lead, holds on for series win - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Hot Rods take 2 of 3; Finish home stand 4-2 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Kernels Salvage Series Finale - Burlington Bees
• Chiefs Win 8-2 Friday - Peoria Chiefs
• Cougars Drop Series Finale to Beloit - Kane County Cougars
• Chiefs drop Rattlers in Peoria - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Dragons defeat Great Lakes - Dayton Dragons
• A "Goodnight" as Silver Hawks Sweep Captains - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Captains Swept in South Bend - Lake County Captains
• Kernels Home Stand Preview: August 20-26 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Chiefs Add Another 2011 Draftee - Peoria Chiefs
• Miller, Mariners' 2nd Round Pick Joins Kings - Clinton LumberKings
• Parkview Field Hosts First On-Field Wedding - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Dragons' Playoff Ticket Sales to Begin on Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
• Dragons Gameday for Friday, August 19 - Dayton Dragons
• Kernels drop fifth in a row in 5-3 loss to Burlington - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• LumberKings Take Middle Game 7-5 - Quad Cities River Bandits

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