Snappers Fall Just Short to TinCaps

BELOIT, Wisc- On a humid day with the temperature over 100 degrees the Fort Wayne TinCaps beat the Beloit Snappers, 8-7.

The TinCaps jumped on Beloit starter Boomer Biegalski for four runs in the top of the first. Peter Van Gansen led off the inning with a single. Later in the inning Carlos Belen and Brad Zunica drew back-to-back walks to load the bases with one out. Marcus Greene Jr. then stepped to the plate and drove Biegalski's first offering over the fence in left center field for a grand slam.

The Snappers responded in the bottom half of the inning cutting the deficit in half. Edwin Diaz and Trent Gilbert ripped consecutive singles with one out. Chris Iriart followed with a hard base hit into right field to load the bases. Brett Siddall then had a quality at-bat off the No. 9 ranked prospect in the San Diego Padres system, starter Jacob Nix that resulted in a base on balls to force in a run. Skye Bolt then lifted a sacrifice fly to left field to make the score 4-2. On the play Iriart was doubled off second base for a costly inning-ending double play.

Fort Wayne tacked on single runs in the top of the second and third. Ruddy Giron and Belen laced back-to-back singles with two outs. Zunica then plated Giron with a RBI double in the second. On inning later, the TinCaps extended their lead to 6-1 on a Snappers error.

Justin Higley tattooed a solo home run in the bottom of the third to slice the TinCaps' lead to 6-3. Beloit continued the comeback in the bottom of the fourth. Bolt ripped a base hit into right field. Moments later Jean Carlo Rodriguez drilled a two-run bomb to left field to cut Fort Wayne's lead to 6-5.

Fort Wayne mounted a major scoring threat in the top of the sixth. Belen and Zunica ripped two straight singles to start the frame. Zack Erwin then struck out Green Jr. swinging for a pivotal first out. Two batters later, Erwin retired Alan Garcia on a groundout with runners on the corners to escape the jam.

The TinCaps brought out the power sticks in the top of the eighth to add key insurance runs. Zunica continued his monster day at the plate drilling a solo home run to right center field to extend the lead to 7-5.

Garcia displayed his power as he took an Erwin offering over the right field fence to balloon the lead to 8-5.

Beloit brought the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth. After the first two Snappers were retired, Rodriguez drew a two-out walk. Robert Martinez then drilled his second home run of the season a two-run blast to pull the Snappers to within one. Jose Chavez flew out to center field to end Beloit's comeback hopes.

Biegalski suffered the loss (6-5) as he went two innings giving up six hits, two walks and five earned runs while punching out two. Rob Huber pitched two solid innings in relief surrendering one hit, two walks, one run and zero earned runs while recording four strikeouts.

Gilbert led the Snappers' offense going 2-for-4 with a run scored. Beloit banged out eight hits against TinCaps pitching.

The Snappers and TinCaps will play a doubleheader tomorrow with game one starting at 4 p.m. and gates opening at 3 p.m.

The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and are a fourth year Class-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics. Stay tuned to the team website and social media for all up to date information. For ticket information, contact the Snappers' offices at 608-362-2272 or visit our website at www.snappersbaseball.com.    

By: Derek Hoesly