Podorsky and Ruiz Homer in TinCaps Loss

FORT WAYNE, Ind. - TinCaps outfielder Robbie Podorsky  and designated hitter Esteury Ruiz  both homered on Friday night, but the TinCaps fell in the series opener against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers), 5-3, at Parkview Field.

Fort Wayne (0-1, 32-28) and West Michigan (1-0, 37-34) were scheduled to play a doubleheader on Friday night, but after a 2 hours, 56 minute-rain delay, the teams played only one nine-inning game.
 
West Michigan got on the board in the top of the second inning. Dylan Rosa hit a groundball towards second baseman Justin Lopez , but the ball took a hop over Lopez's head into right-center field for an RBI single that scored Reynaldo Rivera and gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.
 
The Whitecaps added to their lead in the third. Colby Bortles hit a blooper to right field to score Garrett McCain from second, and Reynaldo Rivera smacked a two-run double down the right-field line to extend the West Michigan advantage, 4-0.
 
West Michigan added one more run in the top of the fifth. Bortles lifted a sacrifice fly to center field to score McCain from third and give the Whitecaps a 5-0 edge.
 
Fort Wayne got a run back in the bottom of the sixth. Podorsky launched his first home run as a TinCap over the left-field wall to cut the deficit to 5-1. After crossing home, Podorsky pointed to the stands where his mother, fiancée, uncle, and grandparents were cheering. They traveled 14 hours from Louisiana by car to see him play for the first time at Parkview Field.
 
The TinCaps continued to rally in the bottom of the eighth. With one out, centerfield Jeisson Rosario  lined one over the head of left fielder Garrett McCain for a stand-up double. Ruiz followed with his team-leading seventh home run of the season to pull the TinCaps within two, 5-3.
 
Fort Wayne got the tying run to the plate in the bottom of the ninth inning, but Johan Belisario recorded the save to give the Whitecaps the win to open the second half.
 
To make up for Thursday's rainout, the TinCaps and Whitecaps now are scheduled to play a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon, with Game 1 beginning at 1:05 p.m.
 
Next Game
Saturday, June 23 vs. West Michigan Whitecaps (7:05 p.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Luis Patiño
- Whitecaps Probable Starter: RHP Brad Bass
Watch: Comcast Network 81
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