Hits Pile Up and Pitching Impresses, But TinCaps Fall

May 26, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - Despite a stellar pitching performance from right-handed starter Moises Lugo, the Fort Wayne TinCaps dropped the second game of the series to the South Bend Cubs (Chicago Cubs affiliate), 5-3, at Four Winds Field on Wednesday night.

The TinCaps (7-12) were buoyed by Lugo, who went five innings and allowed just two hits in his fourth start of the season. Lugo only surrendered one run, and struck out four hitters, equaling his season-high.

Fort Wayne, much like in the series opener on Tuesday, jumped out to an early lead. In the top of the first, TinCaps catcher Jonny Homza drove in designated hitter Agustin Ruiz with a single to center for his ninth run driven in on the year.

The Cubs responded in the bottom of the first, when center fielder Cole Roederer plated shortstop Delvin Zinn on a single right to even the game at one.

Pitching held serve for the next five innings. As fantastic as Lugo was, South Bend starter Derek Casey was equally as dominant. Despite giving up seven hits in six innings, he limited damage to only allow the one run in the opening frame.

Offense resumed in the bottom of the sixth, when Cubs second baseman Chase Strumpf drove in Zinn to take a 2-1 lead. The TinCaps retook the lead just a half-inning later with an RBI-double from center fielder Grant Little and a run-scoring single from Ruiz on back-to-back pitches.

Fort Wayne's 3-2 lead lived until the bottom of the eighth. With the bases loaded, the tying run scored for South Bend on a throwing error after a fielder's choice, and the two deciding runs came on on a single to shallow left from right fielder Nelson Velasquez, and an RBI-groundout by South Bend third baseman Jake Slaughter.

Three TinCaps had multiple hits in the loss: first baseman Luis Almanzar had a three-hit night, and Homza and shortstop Justin Lopez each had two.

Next Game: Thursday, May 27 @ South Bend (7:05 p.m.)

- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: RHP Anderson Espinoza

- South Bend Probable Starter: RHP Ryan Jensen

Watch: MiLB.TV

- Listen: 1380 The Fan & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com

Midwest League Stories from May 26, 2021

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• Banfield Drives In Four As Snappers Beat Chiefs 6-4 - Beloit Sky Carp
• Cubs Rally Late to Win Fifth Straight - South Bend Cubs
• Rattlers Late Breakthrough Beats Kernels 5-0 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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• Quad Cities Launches Five Homers; Blows out Dragons 15-5 - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Bandits Break Open Tie Game in 6th, Top Dragons 15-5 - Dayton Dragons
• Loons Strike Early to Top Lugnuts, 5-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Hits Pile Up and Pitching Impresses, But TinCaps Fall - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Captains Two-Hit Whitecaps, Lose 1-0 Balk-Off - Lake County Captains
• Statement on Tuesday's Game from the South Bend Cubs - South Bend Cubs
• TinCaps Game Information: May 26 at South Bend - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Enlow, Wallner Moved to Injured List - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Dayton Dragons Announce Transactions - Dayton Dragons
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• Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Wednesday - Dayton Dragons
• Cubs Overcome 7-0 Deficit, Top Fort Wayne 12-10 - South Bend Cubs
• Ruiz, Lopez Homer in Road Loss - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Chiefs Hold off Late Rally to Secure 11-10 Win - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers Late Comeback Falls Short, Lose to Chiefs 11-10 - Beloit Sky Carp
• Lugnuts Erupt in 8th to Double up Loons, 10-5 - Lansing Lugnuts

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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