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MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

TinCaps' Pitching Dominant in 3-1 Win

September 9, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


South Bend, Ind. - The Fort Wayne TinCaps held off the South Bend Silver Hawks, 3-1, Wednesday in Game 1 of a best-of-three playoff series at Coveleski Stadium. The TinCaps no-hit the Silver Hawks through 7.2 innings with RHP Simon Castro leading the way as they took a series lead back to Parkview Field for the conclusion of the series.

The TinCaps jumped ahead in the top of the 1st against South Bend RHP Eric Smith. The first three batters of the game reached to load the bases with nobody out. Vince Belnome then grounded into a double play to plate Blake Tekotte and make it 1-0.

It stayed a one-run game as Castro and Smith locked horns in a pitcher's duel. Castro retired eight straight Silver Hawks in a stretch which ended in the 7th inning. He did not allow a runner to move into scoring position until the 7th inning.

In the 7th , South Bend loaded the bases on a pair of walks and a hit batsman. RHP Nick Schumacher escaped damage by striking out Clayton Conner to short-circuit the rally.

The TinCaps tacked on a pair of insurance runs in the 8th . Jaff Decker led off with a single and Belnome laid down a base-hit bunt. Then, Cole Figueroa dropped a sacrifice bunt to pitcher Bryan Woodall, whose throw to first was wild and went down the right-field line. Decker raced around to score and the TinCaps had runners at second and third with nobody out. After an intentional walk of Allan Dykstra, Yefri Carvajal bounced a single over a drawn-in Silver Hawks infield to make it 3-0.

Fort Wayne would need the extra cushion. With two outs in the 8th , LHP Zach Herr issued a two- out walk to A.J. Pollock, who advanced to second on a wild pitch. Reynaldo Navarro lined an RBI single to center for the first South Bend hit of the night and the Silver Hawks' first run. Alfredo Marte singled to put the tying run on base, but a strikeout ended the inning.

In the 9th , RHP Brad Brach retired the side in order to nail down his 34th save of the year.

Castro (11-6) grabbed the win. Smith (0-1) took the loss.

The TinCaps are 95-46 for the season. South Bend is 59-79 overall.

Fort Wayne and the Silver Hawks (Class-A Arizona Diamondbacks) play Game 2 of the best-of- three series Thursday at Parkview Field. "Thirsty Thursday" drink specials are in effect as RHP Erik Davis (16-6) takes the mound opposite South Bend LHP Keny Sosa (2-3). A TinCaps win would end the series; a loss would send the series into a decisive Game 3 on Friday night in Fort Wayne.

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Midwest League Stories from September 9, 2009


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