RECAP: Fabian’s Late Slam Salvages Doubleheader Split at Lake County

Game 1: Box Score

Game 2: Box Score

EASTLAKE, Ohio –TinCaps left fielder Albert Fabiandelivered a two-out, two-strike, go-ahead grand slam in the top of the final inning of the second game of a doubleheader Friday night, sending Fort Wayne (4-2, 36-36) to a split with the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Guardians affiliate). The TinCaps lost the first game, 4-2, but rallied to win the second, 4-2, at Classic Auto Group Park. Fort Wayne has won seven of its last 10 contests.

In the first game, shortstop Jackson Merrill(No. 1 Padres prospect) blasted solo homers in each of his first two at-bats. He now has nine home runs this season. That’s all the scoring the TinCaps could muster though, as a pair of late-inning rallies fizzled.

Lake County scored twice in the bottom of the first, grabbing a 2-1 lead early. Merrill’s solo shot in the third tied the contest, but Captains left fielder Jorge Burgosresponded with a long ball of his own, giving Lake County the lead again, 3-2. The Captains added an insurance run in the sixth and the bullpen held firm to win the first game.

Fort Wayne starting pitcher Adam Mazur(No. 6 Padres prospect)tossed five innings, allowing three earned runs while striking out four.

In the second game, Fabian’s heroics accounted for the offensive output for the TinCaps. Meanwhile, left-handed pitcher Bodi Rasconwas masterful in his start on the bump, punching out a season-high seven hitters over four strong innings.

Lake County unlocked a scoreless tie in the bottom of the fifth inning when second baseman Dayan Friasdrove in catcher Victor Planchartwith a single. Burgos followed that up with an RBI double of his own, and the Captains led 2-0 through five innings.

With two out in seventh (Minor League Baseball doubleheader games are scheduled for seven innings rather than nine), following a Marcos Castañonwalk two hitters earlier, second baseman Graham Pauley(No. 30 Padres prospect) punched a ground ball single through the infield with two strikes to get the tying run on base. Then right fielder Lucas Dunnworked a walk before left fielder Fabian, a 21-year-old originally from the Dominican Republic, crushed a two-strike grand slam to put the TinCaps in front for good, 4-2. It was the fourth slam hit by Fort Wayne this season.

A pair of relivers called up from Single-A Lake Elsinore Tuesday, with Fabian and Pauley, Carter Loewenand Will Geerdes, earned the win and the save, respectively, in their season debuts for Fort Wayne.

The TinCaps have hit five grand slams this season.

Next Game: Saturday, July 1 @ Lake County (7 p.m.)

• TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP Ryan Bergert(No. 24 Padres prospect)
• Captains Probable Starter: LHP Steve Hajjar

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