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MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

TinCaps Hold on to Beat Whitecaps, 3-1

September 7, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Comstock Park, Mich. - The Fort Wayne TinCaps edged the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3-1, in their regular-season finale Monday at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Stiven Osuna fired five scoreless innings as Fort Wayne closed the season with a 94-46 overall record, the best in Minor League Baseball since 2003. The TinCaps jumped ahead with a run in the top of the 2nd. Allan Dykstra stroked a two-out single to left. On the first pitch to Yefri Carvajal, Dykstra was running on the pitch. Carvajal hit a flare down the left-field line and Dykstra never broke stride and scored all the way from first on a single.

Osuna kept the Whitecaps in check throughout the afternoon. He worked out a 5th-inning jam when Brandon Douglas hit a leadoff single to left and went to second on a botched pickoff play. Osuna came back to strike out the next three batters to avoid damage. RHP Nick Schumacher got into trouble in the 6th. With runners at second and third and one out, Billy Nowlin hit a drive to left-center. Blake Tekotte raced over and made a diving catch, jumped up and doubled off the runner at second to short-circuit the Whitecaps' rally. The TinCaps plated a pair of key insurance runs in the top of the 9th. Jaff Decker stroked an RBI single to left and two batters later, Cole Figueroa hit a sacrifice fly to put the TinCaps ahead, 3-0. It turned out that Fort Wayne needed those runs. In the bottom of the 9th, RHP Eduardo Perez allowed a leadoff double to Alden Carrithers. Two batters later, Nowlin bounced a single into center to drive in the Whitecaps' first run of the game. After a flyout, Brandon Douglas slashed a double down the right-field line to put the tying run into scoring position. Avisail Garcia then grounded to short and was out on a close play at first to end the game.

Osuna (10-9) grabbed the win to finish the regular season over .500. Perez notched his second save. West Michigan RHP Anthony Shawler (7-5) took the loss despite going eight strong frames. The TinCaps finished the regular season at 94-46, 49-21 in the second half. West Michigan tumbled to 81-59 overall, 38-32 for the half.

Fort Wayne has Tuesday off before opening a best-of-three playoff series Wednesday at Coveleski Stadium, the home of the South Bend Silver Hawks (Class-A Arizona Diamondbacks). TinCaps RHP Simon Castro (10-6) draws the Game 1 start against South Bend RHP Eric Smith (0-0) in a 6:30pm start.

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Midwest League Stories from September 7, 2009


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