TinCaps 'Sac' Loons
FORT WAYNE, IN - In a game of dueling sacrifice flies, Franmil Reyes lifted the game winner in the 10th inning, securing a 3-2 win for the Fort Wayne TinCaps over the Great Lakes Loons Monday night.
With the game tied 2-2, Trea Turner began the bottom of the 10th with a hard-hit grounder down the third base line against Loons reliever Victor Araujo. Third baseman Leo Rodriguez made a great play on a dive to secure the ball but his throw to first was late.
Ronnie Richardson followed and after showing a bunt on the first pitch, grounded a hit-and-run single to right field. Turner advanced to third and Richardson took second on an errant throw by Joey Curletta from right.
The Loons elected to walk Fernando Perez. Then the Loons summoned Jacob Rhame in from the bullpen and brought left fielder Alex Santana in as a fifth infielder. Reyes connected on the second pitch from Rhame with a fly ball to straight-away left. Devan Ahart, playing left-center, caught the ball on the run but his throw home was tardy and the TinCaps celebrated the win.
The Loons tied the game in the ninth with a sacrifice fly of their own off the bat of Josmar Cordero.
Joey Curletta slugged a deep blast to left in the fourth, his sixth of the year, for the Loons' only other run.
Luis De Paula made his first start since May 24 and allowed a pair of runs in his third and final inning after beginning with two scoreless. Mark Pope and Michael Johnson worked two scoreless frames each. Matt Campbell followed with a scoreless eighth. Araujo (5-2) worked a 1-2-3 ninth, but put three on in the 10th and was charged with the loss. Rhame threw just two pitches.
Nick Mutz (2-5) notched the win with a perfect 10th.
The Loons play the second game of a nine-game road trip Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., the middle game of a three-game series. Right-hander Jose De Leon (1-0, 1.50 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Loons against righty Cody Hebner (1-3, 2.93). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM.
The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com, or call 989-837-BALL.