Lugnuts fall in Fort Wayne, 8-4

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Edward Olivares homered for the second straight day and Christian Williams added a solo shot, but the Lansing Lugnuts (33-26) were doubled up by the Fort Wayne TinCaps (23-39), 8-4, on Saturday at Parkview Field.

It was the fifth straight victory for Fort Wayne over Lansing - and the fourth straight game that the Lugnuts scored exactly four runs.

Lugnuts prospect right-hander Yennsy Diaz pitched two scoreless innings in his Midwest League debut, exiting afterward due to high pitch count. The 20-year-old struck out the side in the first inning, and then loaded the bases with none out in the second inning before setting down three straight batters to escape.

The TinCaps fared better against the Lugs' bullpen, scoring one run in the third, two runs in the fourth, one in the fifth, two in the sixth and two in the eighth. Reliever Tayler Saucedo (Loss, 2-2) bore the brunt of it, allowing six runs (four earned) on seven hits and two walks in 3 1/3 innings.

TinCaps starter Logan Allen(Win, 4-3) limited the Lugnuts to two runs in six innings - a Bo Bichette RBI double in the first, and Williams's third home run of the year in the sixth.

Olivares capped off the scoring in the ninth, blasting a two-run homer to the left of the batter's eye against reliever Diomar Lopez.

Leadoff hitter Rodrigo Orozco led the Lugnuts offensively, going 3-for-5 with two runs scored. 2-3-4 batters Olivares, Bichette and Williams each collected two hits.

Reinaldo Ilarraza, Brad Zunica and Fernando Tatis, Jr. each homered for Fort Wayne.

Right-hander Mike Ellenbest (3-4, 6.53) starts the third game of the four-game set, opposed by Fort Wayne right-hander Reggie Lawson (0-3, 9.64) at 3:05 p.m. Sunday.

The Lansing Lugnuts return home from June 16-18, hosting the archrival West Michigan Whitecaps. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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