TinCaps Blank Dragons in Series Opener

DAYTON, Ohio - Fort Wayne starter Matt Wisler earned his first win as a professional pitcher as the TinCaps blanked the Dayton Dragons 3-0 Saturday in the first of a four-game series at Fifth Third Field. Wisler worked six innings, allowing two hits, no runs, walking two and striking out four. Relievers James Needy and Daniel Cropper combined for three, one-hit innings to secure the victory.

In the first inning, Wisler worked out of a bases loaded jam after allowing two hits and a walk, but did not allow a hit for the remainder of his six frames. Only three Dayton (12-17) batters reached base from the second through the sixth innings.

Fort Wayne (12-17) attacked Dragons starter Tanner Robles (2-1) in the first inning to take a 1-0 lead, as Jace Peterson reached on a single, stole second, advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt and scored on an error by Dayton first baseman Sean Buckley.

In the third, Kyle Gaedele reached with a leadoff walk, and come home to score with the help of a fielding error by Dayton shortstop Juan Perez. Casey McElroy capped the scoring with a solo home run, his first of the year, over the wall in right field in the fifth inning.

The TinCaps earned their first shutout win of the season, and have pieced together back-to-back wins for the second time in 2012. Over the last three games, Fort Wayne starting pitching has combined for 19 innings of work, allowed 11 hits and just two runs, while striking out 17 and walking four.

James Needy pitched two innings out of the TinCaps bullpen in his Fort Wayne debut, and Daniel Cropper pitched the ninth for his first save of the year.

Game two of the series takes place on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 PM. The scheduled starters are Cody Hebner for Fort Wayne and Stalin Gerson for Dayton.