TinCaps Blast Four Homers in 13-0 Win

Midland, MI - The Fort Wayne TinCaps put on an offensive show Saturday night, hitting four home runs in a 13-0 rout of the Great Lakes Loons. Starting pitcher Justin Hancock turned in five scoreless innings, helping Fort Wayne start the season a perfect 3-0.

Jeremy Baltz was the leader for Fort Wayne (3-0), hitting two home runs and driving in six, helping the TinCaps score at least one run in each of the middle three innings. His first blast with a three-run home in the sixth inning, which made a 7-0 lead into a 10-0 margin. The former St. John's University star later added a two-run home run in the eighth. Last season with the Eugene Emeralds, Baltz hit five home runs in 70 games.

He was joined by catcher Dane Philips, who started the scoring with a two-run home run in the first, and third baseman Gabriel Quintana, who hit a solo home run in the fourth inning. Other TinCaps who knocked in runs were Maxx Tissenbaum (2) and Alberth Martinez (1).

Hancock's five innings of pitching dominance aided the TinCaps cause. The righthander from Defiance, Ohio, allowed just two hits, while striking out seven and walking two. In the first three games, Joe Ross, Max Fried and Hancock (1-0) have combined to throw 14 innings, allow four hits, one earned run and strike out 16 while walking six. The starters' ERA is a combined 0.64.

Tayron Guerrero and Matthew Shepherd continued to silence the Great Lakes (0-3) lineup, each throwing two innings of relief. Loons starter Jharel Cotton (0-1) took the loss, giving up six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings.

The finale of the four-game series is scheduled for 3:05 p.m. Sunday afternoon at Great Lakes' Dow Diamond. The scheduled starters are Zach Eflin for Fort Wayne and Carlos Frias for Great Lakes. The game can be heard on 1380 AM and online at TheFanFortWayne.com.