MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps

Fort Wayne Tops Lake County

Published on May 5, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


EASTLAKE, Ohio - TinCaps left fielder Nathan Martorella homered twice and racked up five RBIs, leading Fort Wayne to a dominant 8-3 win over the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Guardians affiliate) at Classic Auto Group Park Friday night. Martorella now has five home runs this year, second most in the Midwest League.

TinCaps catcher Brandon Valenzuela joined the home run party again, homering in his third consecutive start.

Top Padres prospect Jackson Merrill, Fort Wayne's shortstop, went 2-for-5 with his team-best sixth double and an RBI single.

TinCaps starting right hander Jairo Iriarte, No. 11 Padres prospect, tossed five quality shutout innings, allowing only one hit while striking out seven. He leads Fort Wayne in strikeouts this season with 30 total.

Relievers Keegan Collett and Adam Smith each contributed scoreless outings on the bump.

Fort Wayne got on the board first with two outs in the third inning thanks to an error by Lake County shortstop Dayan Frias. That allowed Valenzuela to score the first run of the game. After an RBI single from Merrill brought home TinCaps leadoff hitter Jakob Marsee, third baseman Marcos Castañon walked and then Martorella hit his first of two bombs in the contest, making it 5-0.

The 'Caps bolstered that lead with the solo shot by Valenzuela in the fourth, added another on Martorella's sacrifice fly in the fifth, and led 8-0 after Martorella's second blast of the evening in the seventh.

Lake County's only scoring came courtesy of a three-run homer by left fielder Cesar Idrogo in the bottom of the eighth.

Martorella becomes the first TinCap to hit two homers in a game since Olivier Basabe did the same at Lake County on Aug. 14, 2022.

Next Game: Saturday, May 6 @ Lake County Captains (5 p.m.) - Doubleheader

TinCaps Probable Game 1 Starter: RHP Adam Mazur (No. 6 Padres prospect)

TinCaps Probable Game 2 Starter: LHP Bodi Rascon

Captains Probable Game 1 Starter: RHP Ethan Hankins

Captains Probable Game 2 Starter: RHP Tommy Mace

Watch: Bally Live | MiLB.TV | MLB.TV

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Midwest League Stories from May 5, 2023


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