TinCaps Edge Dayton

June 10, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

South Bend, IN - LHP Nick Schmidt was masterful once again as the Fort Wayne TinCaps downed the Dayton Dragons, 2-1, Wednesday at Parkview Field.

Schmidt worked six scoreless innings and set a career high with nine strikeouts as Fort Wayne won its fifth straight game and shaved the magic number to clinch a playoff spot to five.

Any combination of TinCaps wins and Great Lakes Loons losses totaling five or more would secure Fort Wayne's first playoff berth since 2006.

Schmidt retired the first ten Dragons he faced, a string broken up by Miguel Rojas's infield single in the 4th. In all, he allowed just three hits, a walk and a hit batsman while striking out nine to pick up the win and stay perfect at 3-0.

The TinCaps scored their only runs in the bottom of the 5th. James Darnell doubled to the gap in left-center. After a walk to Adam Zornes, Kevin Hansen was hit by a pitch to load the bases. Blake Tekotte took a walk to force in a run, then Drew Cumberland lifted a sacrifice fly to center to make it 2-0.

Dayton threatened in the 8th when RHP Stiven Osuna issued a pair of two-out walks, but he struck out the dangerous Cody Puckett to maintain the two-run lead.

In the 9th, LHP Zach Herr yielded back-to-back singles to Snider High School graduate Kyle Day and Kevin Coddington. A wild pitch moved the runners up to second and third. After a strikeout, Frank Pfister hit a grounder to third which was misplayed to allow a run to score. With the tying run at second base, Herr induced a flyout and struck out Dave Sappelt to end the game and notch his first save of the year.

Dayton RHP Curtis Partch (4-4) took a tough-luck loss, allowing two runs in seven innings; it snapped a streak in which he won four straight starts. Fort Wayne upped its record to 37-22 and is now 8-0 against the Dragons. Dayton slipped to 24-35.

The TinCaps and Dragons continue the four-game series Thursday at Parkview Field at 7:05pm. Fort Wayne RHP Erik Davis (5-1) takes the ball opposite Dayton RHP Lance Janke (1-3).

Midwest League Stories from June 10, 2009

• Brooks Homers Twice in 8-2 Kernels Win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• McClanahan, Lugnuts Outslug Loons, 9-8 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Kjeldgaard Connects for Game Winner - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Bandits Roughed Up in Series-Opener - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cougars Drop Road Trip Opener - Kane County Cougars
• Bees Open Series with a Two-Run Loss to Beloit - Burlington Bees
• Bullpen Lets Chiefs Down Again, Playoffs Slipping Away - Peoria Chiefs
• Rally in Seventh Give Caps' Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
• TinCaps Edge Dayton - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Lead Lost As Hawks Drop Eighth in a Row - South Bend Silver Hawks
• TinCaps Edge Dragons 2-1 - Dayton Dragons
• Villarreal Activated From Disabled List - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Dragons Place Kuo On Disabled List; Feiner Returns From Sarasota - Dayton Dragons
• Wendy's Tiger Fridays Continues With Rick Leach - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Dragons GameDay - Dayton Dragons
• Bandits Avoid Sweep With 7-3 Win - Quad Cities River Bandits

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