NO-HITTER: TinCaps 9, Loons 1

Box Score

MIDLAND, Mich. – With catcher Colton Bender behind the plate, pitchers Henry Baez, Will Geerdes, and José Geraldo combined to throw a no-hitter as the TinCaps beat the Great Lakes Loons (Dodgers affiliate), 9-1, on Friday night at Dow Diamond.

This was just the fourth no-hitter for the 'Caps since the franchise was founded in 1993. (See list below.)

Baez (No. 30 Padres prospect) was perfect through six innings with four strikeouts. Loons center fielder Chris Newell walked in a six-pitch plate appearance to begin the bottom of the seventh inning. Great Lakes shortstop Noah Miller (No. 26 Dodgers prospect) then hit a grounder back to Baez. The pitcher from the Dominican Republic threw to second base in hopes of initiating a double play. However, an errant throw enabled Newell to advance to third base and Miller was safe at first on the fielder's choice. But after that, designated hitter Kyle Nevin grounded into a 4-6-3 double play that scored Newell, and with the bases empty, Baez induced another groundout by right fielder Dylan Campbell.

The 21-year-old Baez threw 79 pitches, 48 for strikes, mixing a mid-90s fastball with a curveball and a splitter. He recorded 10 groundouts and two flyouts.

Geerdes, 24, tossed a perfect bottom of the eighth inning.

Geraldo, 25, retired all three batters he faced as well. Newell, who leads all players from Single-A through Double-A in home runs with 20, flew out to Homer Bush Jr. (No. 8 Padres prospect) in deep center field to end the game.

The TinCaps, in their road gray and red uniforms, then celebrated together on the infield grass in front of the mound.

Meanwhile, offensively, Fort Wayne (8-11, 36-49) tallied a season-high 18 hits. The team's previous high for hits in a game this year was 12. In fact, Friday marked the 'Caps highest hit total since June 19, 2022 at Lansing, when they amassed 22 knocks. The TinCaps also drew eight walks in Friday's win.

Fort Wayne went in front quickly in the top of the first inning as second baseman Anthony Vilar smacked an RBI single. The 'Caps extended their lead in the third as third baseman Devin Ortiz added a run-scoring single and left fielder Nick Vogt contributed a three-run double to make it 5-0.

Vogt tacked on a two-run double in the fifth to stretch the advantage to 7-0.

The TinCaps got more insurance in the eighth when Bush scored from third on a wild pitch and in the ninth when Vilar drew a bases-loaded walk.

Vilar went 2-for-2 with four walks, becoming the first TinCap to walk four times in a game since Lucas Dunn did it here on Aug. 27, 2022.

All nine 'Caps in the order registered at least one hit and reached base at least twice. Vogt and designated hitter Griffin Doersching each went 3-for-4. Vogt's five RBIs matched his Minor League Baseball career high.

Mike Daly's team did most of their damage against Loons (7-11, 41-43) starter Payton Martin (No. 9 Dodgers prospect), who went the first four-plus innings.

Great Lakes' offense entered ranking seventh out of 12 teams in the Midwest League in OPS (.684) and fifth in runs per game (4.77).

The TinCaps have taken three of the first four meetings in this six-game series.

Fort Wayne No-Hitters:

1. Aug. 19, 2009: Simón Castro vs. Dayton (7 innings)

2. May 9, 2013: Combined vs. Great Lakes (9 innings)

3. May 16, 2023: Combined @ Dayton (9 innings)

4. July 12, 2024: Combined @ Great Lakes (9 innings)

Next Game:

Saturday, July 13 @ Great Lakes (7:05pm)

- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Dylan Lesko (No. 3 Padres prospect)

- Loons Probable Starter: LHP Jackson Ferris (No. 6 Dodgers prospect)

Watch: Bally Live app (free) | MiLB.TV | MLB.TV

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