TinCaps Pitchers Strike Out Season-High 19

July 1, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

FORT WAYNE, Ind. -The Fort Wayne TinCaps pitching staff struck out a season-high 19 hitters in a 6-3 loss to the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate) in 10 innings on Thursday night at Parkview Field. The game was played in front of 4,380 fans, the largest crowd for a TinCaps home game this year.

Great Lakes (27-24) threatened mightily in the first inning, but just one came across on TinCaps starter Anderson Espinoza. The Padres' No. 11 prospect recorded three strikeouts in his lone inning of work.

The Loons doubled their lead on an RBI single from designated hitter Justin Yurchak in the third. It was Yurchak's second hit of the night, giving the former White Sox farmhand his third straight multi-hit game.

Second baseman Justin Lopez tied the game in the fifth for the TinCaps (23-27). He ripped a two-run home run to right field for his fifth of the season, plating third baseman Ethan Skender. The home run was one of just two hits against Loons starter Jesus Vargas in his five innings.

In the sixth, the TinCaps took the lead after a bunt from shortstop Kelvin Melean and throwing error by Great Lakes pitcher Braidyn Fink allowed center fielder Reinaldo Ilarraza to score from second base. However, the Loons tied the game, 3-3, in the eighth on an RBI double from shortstop Leonel Valera.

After neither team scored in the ninth, Fort Wayne went to extra innings with Great Lakes for the second time in three nights. In the top of the 10th, a sacrifice fly and a two-run single drove in three for the Loons. The TinCaps were shut out in the bottom of the inning by Loons reliever Jack Little.

Fort Wayne's pitching performance was highlighted by left-hander Erik Sabrowski, who tallied a career-high nine of Fort Wayne's 19 strikeouts in just his fourth professional appearance. Offensively, Melean collected two hits, increasing his on-base streak to 12 games.

The last time TinCaps pitchers struck out 19 in a game was on July 19, 2018, against the Burlington Bees in 12 innings. On Thursday, all 19 strikeouts came in nine innings. The franchise record for strikeouts in a game as a staff is 20, which has happened twice -- most recently on Aug. 5, 2016 in a 15-inning game at South Bend. The last time the TinCaps struck out 19 batters across nine innings was Aug. 19, 2017, also at home against Great Lakes.

Next Game: Friday, July 2 vs. Great Lakes (7:05 p.m.)

- Fort Wayne Probable Starter: LHP Ethan Elliott

- Great Lakes Probable Starter: LHP Alec Gamboa

Watch: Comcast Network 81 | MiLB.TV

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

Midwest League Stories from July 1, 2021

• Snappers Walk-Off Timber Rattlers For Second Straight Game - Beloit Sky Carp
• Chiefs Outhit Whitecaps Twice But Fall in Doubleheader - Peoria Chiefs
• Snappers Take Down Timber Rattlers in Eleven - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• TinCaps Pitchers Strike Out Season-High 19 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Quad Cities Drowns Kernels with 15 Hits in Game Three Victory - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Urbaez Lifts Dragons Past Lugnuts in 10, 4-3 - Lansing Lugnuts
• River Bandits Defeat Kernels Thursday - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Urbaez Leads Dragons to Extra Inning Win at Lansing - Dayton Dragons
• Captains Sweep Cubs in Return to Action - Lake County Captains
• Cubs Drop Both in the Series-Opening Double-Header - South Bend Cubs
• TinCaps Game Information: July 1 vs. Great Lakes - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Dock Spiders Return Home Friday Night for Eight-Game Homestand (July 2nd - 10th) - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• See Three Amazing Jerseys During a Six-Pack of Timber Rattlers Home Games from July 6-11 - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Erik Manoah Jr., Kyle Schmidt Join Cedar Rapids - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Dayton Dragons Game Notes - Dayton Dragons
• South Bend Cubs Announce Upcoming Game/Promotion Schedule - South Bend Cubs
• Craft Beer Night at Four Winds Field Returns September 2 - South Bend Cubs
• 'Caps Come out Swinging in Peoria - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Loons Bounce Back with 8-1 Wednesday Win - Great Lakes Loons
• Whitecaps Take Game One from the Chiefs - Peoria Chiefs
• Six-Run Seventh Helps Bandits Even Series with Kernels - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Johnston Walks Off Timber Rattlers In Extras 8-7 - Beloit Sky Carp

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.

Other Recent Fort Wayne TinCaps Stories

• Butterworth Continues to Thrive at the Plate in Loss
• TinCaps Transactions & Game Information: July 18 at Lake County Captains (Guardians Affiliate)
• TinCaps Fall in Series Finale Prior to the All-Star Break
• TinCaps Game Information: July 13 vs. Quad Cities River Bandits (Royals Affiliate)
• 7,000-plus Fans Watch The Braedon and Brandon Show