RECAP: 2nd Largest Crowd in Fort Wayne History Watches Win
Box Score FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The TinCaps' offense exploded on the Fourth of July in front of the second-largest crowd in Parkview Field's 15-year history. Fort Wayne flourished against the Lansing Lugnuts (A's affiliate), 9-1, as a standing-room only crowd of 9,337 fans watched before the City of Fort
Box Score
FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The TinCaps' offense exploded on the Fourth of July in front of the second-largest crowd in Parkview Field's 15-year history. Fort Wayne flourished against the Lansing Lugnuts (A's affiliate), 9-1, as a standing-room only crowd of 9,337 fans watched before the City of Fort Wayne's fireworks.
Fort Wayne (5-8, 33-46) jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning and never looked back. Center fielder Homer Bush Jr. (No. 8 Padres prospect) led the frame off being hit by a pitch. After stealing both second base and third, he came in to score on an error. Left fielder Nick Vogt added an RBI single and right fielder Kai Murphy brought in a run as well on a groundout.
Bush finished the game with a hit, a walk, the hit by pitch, and three stolen bases to raise his total to 40 bags on the year – tied for the Midwest League lead.
'Caps starter Sam Whiting threw three scoreless innings with four strikeouts.
Lansing (4-9, 36-42) scored its only run in the fourth as first baseman Will Simpson (No. 24 A's prospect) ripped an opposite-field home run over the right-field fence in the corner.
But the TinCaps answered in a big way in the ensuing half inning with five runs to go up 8-1. Designated hitter Joshua Mears mashed an RBI double, catcher Colton Bender banged a two-run double, second baseman Anthony Vilar crushed an RBI triple, and first baseman Romeo Sanabria tacked on a run-scoring single.
The 'Caps poured on another run in the sixth as Vilar came through with an RBI single.
After Whiting, José Geraldo worked two innings, followed by Indiana native Jackson Smeltz, who pitched two scoreless innings with four punchouts. Will Geerdes had a scoreless eighth and Bradgley Rodriguez (No. 28 Padres prospect) put on the finishing touches in the ninth.
The home team out-hit the visitors, 11-6.
Since Parkview Field opened in 2009, the only larger crowd came on the Fourth of July in 2019 (9,508).
Next Game: Friday, July 5 vs. Lansing (7:05pm)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Henry Baez (No. 30 Padres prospect)
- Lugnuts Probable Starter: RHP Blaze Pontes
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