MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

Lightning Strikes Twice - Another 7-5 Wizard Win

Published on May 15, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN---It has often been said that lightning will almost never strike twice in the same place.

Don't tell that to either the Fort Wayne Wizards or the West Michigan Whitecaps.

On Wednesday night, West Michigan jumped out to an early 4-0 lead at Memorial Stadium, only to see Fort Wayne come from behind to post a 7-5 victory.

On Thursday afternoon, the Whitecaps once again had a lead of 4-0.

Once again the Wizards rallied, scoring two runs in the fifth inning, two runs in the sixth inning, and three more times in the bottom of the eighth; in coming from behind for the second day in a row, defeating West Michigan, ironically by a score of 7-5, this time in front of 3,458 fans at Memorial Stadium.

For the third day in a row, it was the Whitecaps who scored the first runs of the game, this time in the top of the first inning.

Fort Wayne starting pitcher Jeremy Hefner retired the first two batters he faced, but then gave up a single to Justin Henry, threw a wild pitch, gave up a run-scoring single to Chris Carlson, hit Casper Wells with a pitch, gave up another run-scoring single to Kody Kaiser, then watched as Kaiser and Wells successfully pulled off a double steal, which resulted in West Michigan taking a 3-0 lead.

In the top of the third inning, Joe Tucker doubled into the gap in right-centerfield, advanced to third base on Hefner's second wild pitch of the game, then scored on a sacrifice fly off the bat of Carlson to increase the Whitecap advantage to 4-0.

The Wizards began their comeback in the bottom of the fifth inning.

Luis Durango drew a lead off walk from West Michigan relief pitcher Andrew Hess, moved up to second base on Andy Parrino's third single of the game, and scored on a one-out single by Justin Baum to get Fort Wayne on the scoreboard.

Parrino advanced to third base on Baum's single, and scored on a balk charged to Hess, bringing the Wizards to within 4-2.

They scored two more times in the bottom of the sixth inning to tie the game at 4-4, the runs coming as a result of a walk to Brad Chalk, a single by Zach Brown, a successful sacrifice bunt from Luis Martinez, an infield ground out, and another balk issued by Hess.

Again, just as on Wednesday night, the Whitecaps re-took the lead, when another double by Tucker scored Kyle Peter (who walked) all the way from first base, making the score 5-4.

It remained 5-4, until RBI-singles by pinch-hitter Felix Carrasco, Parrino, and Baum gave Fort Wayne their first lead of the game at 7-5.

Jackson Quezada came in from the bullpen and kept West Michigan from scoring in the top of the ninth inning to preserve the victory.

Derek McDaid (2-0), who pitched a scoreless inning of relief (8th), got credit for the win.

Wilton Garcia (1-1), who gave up the three runs in the eighth inning, took the loss, with Quezada picking up his third save of the series, and his fourth save overall.

The Wizards now await the arrival of the South Bend Silver Hawks to town for a four-game weekend series.

Friday will see a pair of seven-inning games, necessitated by a rainout of last Sunday's scheduled game at Coveleski Stadium.

Fort Wayne will start left-handed pitchers Allen Harrington (1-1, 4.04) and Matt Teague (3-1, 4.96).

South Bend will send right-hander Cristian Beltre (3-2, 3.03) and southpaw Tom Layne (0-1, 2.49) out to the mound.

The games can be heard on both the radio (ESPN Radio 1380) and the Internet (www.fortwaynewizards.com), beginning with the Hupe Insurance Services Pre-Game Show at 4:40 p.m. (EDT).

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Midwest League Stories from May 15, 2008


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