TinCaps Win Again, Sweep Series

Click here to see an interview with Justin Hancock and highlights from Sunday's win over Lansing

Fort Wayne, IN -- The TinCaps topped the Lansing Lugnuts, 7-5, at Parkview Field on Sunday, completing a three-game sweep at Parkview Field. After seeing a 5-0 lead evaporate in the fifth inning, Fort Wayne took a lead it would not relinquish on a sixth-inning solo home run from catcher Rodney Daal. The sweep is the TinCaps' first at home since July 28-30, 2012 against the Great Lakes Loons.

A night after scoring 17 runs, Fort Wayne (9-6) wasted no time in getting on the scoreboard Sunday against Lansing left-handed starter Daniel Norris. The TinCaps put up one run in each of the first two frames thanks to an RBI-groundout by third baseman Gabriel Quintana and a run-scoring single from designated hitter Mallex Smith. 

The TinCaps then added to their lead in the fifth with three runs to go up 5-1. Second baseman Diego Goris brought home Smith and shortstop Maxx Tissenbaum on a base-hit to left field. Four batters later, Corey Adamson plated Goris on a groundout to shortstop. 

While the TinCaps' Justin Hancock did not earn a win, he did breeze through the Lansing (4-9) lineup through the first five innings. He allowed just two hits and walked four, but faced the minimum 15 batters over the first five innings thanks to three double-plays turned by his defense. Hancock worked 5 2/3 innings, the most for any Fort Wayne starter in the first 15 games of the season.

With John Hussey (1-0) on the mound, all five of the Lugnuts' runs scored in the sixth inning after Hancock's departure. Two of the runs, which were charged to Hancock, were unearned due to an error on first baseman Luis Tejada, who dropped a foul pop-up. The other three were charged to the 26-year-old Hussey. The TinCaps tacked on two more runs in the bottom of the sixth--first with a Rodney Daal home run to left, and then on a sacrifice fly by Rodney Daal. Lugnuts reliver Ben White (0-1), who allowed the final two runs to score, took the loss.

Roman Madrid closed out the game, earning his third save of the season.

The TinCaps head to Bowling Green, Kentucky, for the start of a three-game series Monday night. With a scheduled 8:05 ET first pitch at Bowling Green Ballpark, the starters are set to be Zach Eflin for Fort Wayne and Taylor Guerrieri for Bowling Green. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 and TheFanFortWayne.com.