Rushing and Diaz Homer, Loons Thrash TinCaps 5-2

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Two longballs and five relievers holding the Fort Wayne TinCaps (4-13) to one run abetted the Great Lakes Loons (9-8) to over .500, and their third straight win a 5-2 final on a 55-degree partly cloudy night at Parkview Field.

Dalton Rushing, the reigning Midwest League Player of the Week tattoed a ball over the right field fence, for his fourth home run in his 15th game, a solo shot in the top of the seventh. Luis Diaz extended the lead to 5-2 with a missile to deep left field in the top of the eighth, Diaz’s first of the year

TinCaps starter Garrett Hawkins retired the first six he faced in order. In the third, the Loons missed two opportunities to score. With two on and one out, Austin Gauthier singled to right field. The lead runner Yunior Garcia was sent home but was thrown out by right-fielder Justin Farmer. After a walk, the bases were loaded but the inning ended with a pop-up.

Great Lakes would push across the game’s first run in the fourth. Yeiner Fernandez with one out doubled to left field. He was moved to first by a Griffin Lockwood-Powell single to centerfield and advanced home on a fielder’s choice 6-4 put in play by Ismael Alcantara.

Ben Casparius was stout in his start. Despite walking a Fort Wayne batter, in each half-inning, he stranded four runners. The fourth was the right-hander’s best an 11-pitch 1-2-3. He extended his scoreless streak to 11 straight innings, the best by a Loon in 2023.

A bunt single and walk by Fort Wayne in the bottom of the fifth, bumped Casparius. Jack Dreyer got the next two outs, but a wild pitch moved both runners, and then a sacrifice fly to center knotted up the score at one.

The Loons took the lead back in the top of the sixth. Four full-count walks pushed the go-ahead run. Damon Keith, Yeiner Fernandez, Yunior Garcia, and Luis Diaz all reached on base on balls. Diaz earned his first RBI. The Rushing HR in the next inning gave Great Lakes a 3-1 advantage.

Franklin De La Paz in the sixth forced three groundouts, working around a pitch clock violation-aided walk. Benony Robles **induced a 4-6-3 double play, but a second walk and then a wild pitch set up Marcos Castanon to produce a two-out RBI single. [Christian Suarez**](https://www.milb.com/player/christian-suarez-682949) after a balk, stranded Castanon in scoring position to keep it 3-2 after seven.

Luis Diaz provided cushion with his deep drive to left field. Suarez sent down 4-5-6, 1-2-3 in the bottom of the eighth. Michael Hobbs was presented with his first save chance this season. It started with eight straight balls to put the potential tying run at the plate. The right-hander responded striking out the next two and a groundout to close the contest. He put down Jakob Marsee and Marcos Castanon two of the three TinCaps to reach twice.

The Great Lakes bullpen through the first two games has pitched 11 innings and has permitted just one run.

The Loons with a win in game three in the six-game set, will earn at least a series split. Fort Wayne and Great Lakes on Thursday, April 27th will start at 7:05 p.m. from Parkview Field.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.