MWL Fort Wayne TinCaps

Zabala Homers, But Tenderloins (TinCaps) Drop Series Finale

August 6, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Playing as the Hoosier State Tenderloins for the final time this year, TinCaps designated hitter Juan Zabala homered for the second straight game, but Fort Wayne dropped the series finale to the Great Lakes Loons (Los Angeles Dodgers affiliate), 13-3, on a soggy Sunday afternoon at "Porkview" Field. The teams split the six-game set.

Despite the loss, Fort Wayne (20-16, 52-50) is still tied for first place in the Midwest League's East Division with Dayton (Cincinnati Reds affiliate).

Zabala's bomb, which came in the bottom of the second inning, was his fifth of the year and traveled 367 feet. At the time, it tied the game, 3-3.

Great Lakes (18-18, 63-38) put together a three-run first inning, highlighted by first baseman Griffin Lockwood-Powell's two-run double.

The "Tenderloins" responded quickly though, scoring two runs in their half of the first. Second baseman Graham Pauley(No. 29 Padres prospect) smoked an RBI single with one out, scoring shortstop Nerwilian Cedeño (No. 11 Padres prospect). Pauley leads Midwest League hitters since June 29 with 34 RBIs. Left fielder Nathan Martorella (No. 21 Padres prospect) later scored on a throwing error.

After Zabala tied the game, the Loons regained the lead for good with right fielder Nick Biddsion's run-scoring double. Then in the fourth, Great Lakes added another on second baseman Taylor Young's sacrifice fly.

In the sixth, with two outs, Loons center fielder Jake Vogel smacked a solo homer to extend the lead, 6-3. They opened up an even larger lead with two more scoring in the eighth on a bases-loaded walk and an error. Five additional runs scored in the ninth on a pair of bases-loaded walks, a hit batter, and two RBI hits by Lockwood-Powell and left fielder Chris Alleyne, respectively.

The Loons scored the final 10 runs of the contest.

Fort Wayne struggled with runners in scoring position, going just 2-for-9.

Martorella extended his on-base streak to 22 games, which is the longest by a Fort Wayne player this year.

This homestand at Parkview Field welcomed 36,704 fans through the gates, which is the second-best attended homestand this decade, trailing only the last series in July.

Thursday through Sunday, the team wore special jerseys and hats as the Hoosier State Tenderloins, a tribute to the state's unofficial favorite sandwich. For those games, not only did the team wear the unique uniforms, but the center-field concourse featured carnival games and concession stands offered tenderloin sandwiches. For every sandwich sold, Indiana Pork, the presenting sponsor of the weekend, donated a meal of ground pork to the Community Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Indiana.

Next Game: Tuesday, Aug. 8 @ Lansing (7:05 p.m.)

TinCaps Probable Starter: LHP Robby Snelling (No. 4 Padres prospect)

Lugnuts Probable Starter: RHP Jake Garland

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Midwest League Stories from August 6, 2023


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