Gore Debuts, But TinCaps Lose

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - The third overall pick in the 2017 MLB Draft, MacKenzie Gore , made his TinCaps debut on Tuesday night, but the TinCaps lost to the Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays), 6-5, at Parkview Field.

Gore, who MLB.com ranks as the No. 1 left-handed pitching prospect in baseball, went three innings. The 19-year-old threw 66 pitches (42 strikes) across three innings. Gore struck out the first batter he faced to start the game, Chavez Young, and finished with four strikeouts against one walk. The lefty was charged with five hits, although three were infield singles. He allowed two runs in the third inning on a two-run double by Lansing third baseman Kevin Smith. Gore, who throws a fastball, curveball, slider, and changeup, topped out at 95 miles per hour and sat around 94. For three of his four strikeouts, he got batters to swing and miss at fastballs. He also got a swing-and-miss strike three on a curve.
Fort Wayne (0-6) has led in four of its six losses to start the season, including Tuesday. The TinCaps jumped out to a 2-0 advantage in the bottom of the second thanks to a two-out, two-run double from center fielder Jeisson (pronounced: YAY-son) Rosario.
After Lansing (4-2) tied the game in its half of the third, Fort Wayne retook the lead in the bottom half. Designated hitter Juan Fernandez delivered a two-out, RBI single, and shortstop Gabriel Arias crossed home from third base on a wild pitch.
Again, though, the Lugnuts equalized their next time up in the fourth with Gore replaced by another southpaw, Travis Radke .
The back-and-forth nature continued as the TinCaps pushed back in front in the fifth with Arias scoring once more on a wild pitch. The 18-year-old shortstop had two doubles on the night, plus a walk, and three runs scored.
Radke struck out six in three innings, yet conceded two more runs in the seventh (only one of which was earned; the TinCaps were charged with three errors on the night), and Lansing led for the first time in the game, 6-5.
Arias almost came through with another extra-base hit in the bottom of the ninth that could've tied the game, but a ball he drove the opposite way to the right-field warning track was acrobatically caught by Chavez Young.  
Next Game
Wednesday, April 11 vs. Lansing (11:05 a.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: LHP Nick Margevicius
- Lugnuts Probable Starter: RHP Yennsy Diaz
Watch: Comcast Network 81
Listen: ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM, TinCapsRadio.com, TuneIn