TinCaps Close Homestand with Loss

Fort Wayne, IN -- On "Splash Day" at Parkview Field Tuesday afternoon, the TinCaps lost to the West Michigan Whitecaps, 7-5. Second baseman Diego Goris went 3-for-3 at the plate with a run and an RBI for Fort Wayne, but that didn't prevent a fourth consecutive loss.

With Adys Portillo -- a member of the Padres' 40-man roster trying to work his way back from a right-triceps injury -- on the mound as the starting pitcher, the TinCaps fell behind 1-0 in the top of the first. Whitecaps first baseman Lance Durham lined a single to score Danry Vasquez. Fort Wayne, however, had an immediate response offensively in the bottom of the first. After Alberth Martinez doubled, Goris drove him home with an RBI-single. Two batters later, Luis Tejada plated Goris on a fielder's choice groundout to give the home team the lead, 2-1. 

Both teams scored two runs in the fourth inning, but perhaps the bigger story was that Portillo left the game with an apparent injury during the top of the frame.

The TinCaps' 4-3 edge dissipated in the top of the seventh inning. Matt Chabot, who threw 3 and 2/3 innings in relief of Portillo, exited the game with two outs and the Whitecaps' Devon Travis at second base. Matthew Shepherd (L, 4-1) came on in relief and allowed the inherited runner, plus three more, to score. Jason King, who homered twice for West Michigan Monday night, came up with the game's biggest hit, a three-run home run to the lawn seats in right field that made it 7-4 in favor of the visitors. 

Fort Wayne (1-5, 44-31) got one run back in the bottom of the eighth inning courtesy of a Chris Burke ground rule double to score Goris and move Tejada to third. The TinCaps couldn't complete the comeback, though, as Corey Adamson and Luis Domoromo both struck out against Josh Turley (H, 5). 

Chad Smith (W, 3-3) earned the win out of the bullpen for West Michigan (4-2, 37-39) after tossing three innings of one-hit, scoreless relief. Angel Nesbitt (S, 1) pitched a perfect ninth for the save to finish the Whitecaps' three-game series sweep. The TinCaps hadn't been swept at home in a three-game set since it happened against the Clinton LumberKings May 31-June 2, 2011.      

Fort Wayne embarks on an eight-game road trip Wednesday at Lansing. Walker Weickel (2-3) is the scheduled starter for the TinCaps against the Lugnuts' Ben White (4-4) in a pairing of right-handers. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com.