Clarke and Soderstrom homer, but ‘Caps walk off

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Denzel Clarke and Tyler Soderstrom mashed no-doubt home runs, but the Fort Wayne TinCaps (7-10, 34-49) rallied back to walk off the Lansing Lugnuts (7-10, 32-51), 8-7, on Anthony Vilar’s RBI single in the bottom of the ninth on Wednesday afternoon at Parkview Field.

The Lugnuts built leads of 2-0, 5-3 and 7-4, only to see Matthew Acosta tie the game in the eighth with an RBI single off Trayson Kubo.

Kubo then opened the ninth inning with ten consecutive balls before coming back to strike out Olivier Basabe on a two-strike fouled bunt attempt. The Nuts then turned to Brock Whittlesey, whom Vilar greeted with a drive over right fielder Gabriel Maciel to bring in pinch-runner Max Ferguson with the game-winning run.

Lugnuts starter Christian Fernandez, acquired Saturday from Tampa Bay with Triple-A outfielder Cal Stevenson for Christian Bethancourt, made his A’s MiLB debut with a three-inning stint, striking out two while allowing four runs on five hits and two walks.

Stevie Emanuels followed with six strikeouts in 3 2/3 innings, allowing five hits, three walks and two runs (one earned) before Kumar Nambiar recorded the final out of the seventh, stranding two runners, and the first out of the eighth, leading into Kubo’s entrance.

Center fielder Clarke made his first appearance in the starting lineup since June 29, finishing 1-for-3 with a walk, a single, and a massive two-run homer to left in the third inning.

First baseman Soderstrom similarly enjoyed an impactful day at the plate, going 3-for-4 with a walk, a single, a double, and his team-leading 15th home run of the year.

Third baseman Jack Winkler added a walk, an RBI single, an RBI double and an RBI groundout, while left fielder Joshwan Wright singled and doubled in five at-bats to extend his on-base streak to 13 games, tying Jared McDonald for the longest streak on the team this season.
Right-hander Joey Estes (4.47 ERA) will start the third game of the six-game series on Thursday at 7:05 p.m., opposed by TinCaps lefty Robert Gasser (3.76 ERA).

The next Nuts homestand runs from July 22-24 against the Lake County Captains. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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