TinCaps Top Kernels Wednesday

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps defeated the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 6-1, Wednesday evening at Parkview Field. This six-game series is now even at 1-1 with Fort Wayne improving to 11-14 overall and Cedar Rapids dropping to 11-15 for the season.

TinCaps pitchers Anderson Espinoza and Edwuin Bencomo (3-0) combined to retire the first 14 batters in the game. Espinoza struck out three batters over three perfect innings of work. Bencomo eventually lost the perfect game bid during the fifth along with the shutout bid in the sixth but still finished with a winning outing that featured four strikeouts in three frames.

Three runs within the second inning put Fort Wayne ahead for good. Tirso Ornelas led off by reaching on a single, and he would score on a one-out double from Ethan Skender. Two batters later, Reinaldo Ilarraza hit an RBI single. While Jawuan Harris was batting, Ilarraza forced a rundown between first base and second base that allowed Kelvin Melean to come home from third base for a 3-0 lead.

Cedar Rapids trimmed its deficit to 3-1 in the top of the sixth. With runners at first and second with no outs, Spencer Steer flied out to center field. Both runners advanced, and the relay to second base ricocheted off Gabriel Maciel. Max Smith came around third to score on the play.

Fort Wayne answered with its latest three-run outburst during its half of the sixth inning. Jonny Homza’s bases-loaded single into right-center field brought home Melean, Ilarraza, and Harris which secured a 6-1 advantage.

Kody Funderburk (0-1) was charged for two earned runs out of three total runs allowed along with a loss. He led all pitchers with a career-high-tying nine strikeouts. Also in Wednesday’s action, Fort Wayne’s Felix Minjarez received credit for a hold after tossing two shutout innings in relief of Bencomo.

Thursday’s contest between Cedar Rapids and Fort Wayne is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET (6:05 p.m. CT) at Parkview Field. Audio coverage of Kernels baseball during this road trip will be provided by Chris Kleinhans-Schulz exclusively on www.kernels.com.

Cedar Rapids will host its next homestand from June 15 through June 27. Fans can purchase tickets for all Cedar Rapids Kernels home games by visiting www.kernels.com, going to the Kernels Ticket Office, or calling (319) 896-7560. The Kernels Ticket Office is open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturdays. On Sundays when the Kernels have a home game, the Kernels Ticket Office will open at 11:00 a.m.