TinCaps stave off Lugnuts' comeback, 4-3

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - J.D. Davis walked, doubled and homered, but grounded into a fielder's choice with the bases loaded in the ninth, and the Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-17) survived the Lansing Lugnuts (17-12), 4-3, on Friday night at Parkview Field.

The Lugnuts trailed the TinCaps 4-0 entering the eighth, but sparked to life against reliever Wilson Santos. Rowdy Tellez reached on an error by second baseman Nick Vilter, and cleanup hitter Davis lined a no-doubt shot into the bleachers in left for his first home run of the season, halving the deficit.

In the ninth, facing 'Caps closer Bryan Verbitsky (Sv, 2), Anthony Alford sliced a one-out RBI double down the right field line to bring the Lugs within a run. With the tying and go-ahead runs in scoring position, Richard Urena stung a liner - directly at shortstop Felipe Blanco for the second out.

Fort Wayne manager Francisco Morales chose to intentionally walk Tellez, loading the bases for Davis. On a 1-2 pitch, the Lugs' right fielder sent a bouncer to third baseman Duanel Jones, who threw to second to force out Tellez and end the game.

Jones, coincidentally, had given Fort Wayne an important insurance run with a seventh-inning home run off Starlyn Suriel, pushing a 3-0 lead to 4-0.

TinCaps starter Dinelson Lamet struck out eight Lugnuts in four innings in a no-decision, including four in the fourth inning alone.

He was relieved by T.J. Weir (W, 2-0), who blanked the Lugs from the fifth through the seventh.

Lansing starter Conner Greene (L, 2-2) gave up three runs on six hits and three walks in four innings, striking out two.

The 'Caps improved to 2-6 against the Lugnuts in 2015.

The outcome sets up a Saturday night rubber match at 7:05 p.m., pitting Lansing right-hander Sean Reid-Foley (0-0, 2.51) against Fort Wayne right-hander Yimmi Brasoban (0-1, 4.20).

The next Lugs home game at Cooley Law School Stadium is at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, May 18th, starting an eight-game homestand that stretches through May 25th.. For more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit lansinglugnuts.com.

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