FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Chavez Young capped a three-run seventh inning with a tie-breaking, two-run, 426-foot homer, and the Lansing Lugnuts (22-20, 65-47) beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps (19-22, 51-59), 5-3, in the opener of a three-game series on Saturday night at Parkview Field.Trailing 3-2 entering the seventh, Vinny Capra drew
FORT WAYNE, Ind. - Chavez Young capped a three-run seventh inning with a tie-breaking, two-run, 426-foot homer, and the Lansing Lugnuts (22-20, 65-47) beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps (19-22, 51-59), 5-3, in the opener of a three-game series on Saturday night at Parkview Field.
Trailing 3-2 entering the seventh, Vinny Capra drew a walk from debuting Fort Wayne reliever Reiss Knehr (Blown Save, 1; Loss, 0-1). Ryan Gold singled Capra to third base, and Jesus Navarro 's groundout to first base rought him home with the game-tying run. Two batters later, Young blasted off to right-center on a 3-2 pitch, crushing his sixth homer of the season to give the Lugnuts the lead.
The two-run lead proved plenty adequate thanks to outstanding relief: Brody Rodning (Win, 3-3) struck out three in pitching perfect sixth and seventh innings, and Dany Jimenez (Save, 9) followed with two strikeouts on his way through perfect eighth and ninth innings.
The Lugnuts have won eight of their last ten games.
Ryan Noda added a two-run homer for the Nuts, his fourth in August and his team-leading 15th of the year.
Maximo Castillo pitched five innings in a no-decision, striking out five while allowing three runs (one earned) on eight hits and one walk.
Nuts right-hander Graham Spraker (2.72 ERA) starts the second game of the series, set for 3:05 p.m. Sunday. Fort Wayne counters with Sparta, Mich., native Ben Sheckler (3.39).
The Lugnuts return to Cooley Law School Stadium this Wednesday, August 8th, for the start of a seven-game homestand against the Dayton Dragons and Bowling Green Hot Rods. To purchase tickets and live the Lug Life, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.
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