Unlucky 13th Dooms TinCaps

Fort Wayne Rallies from Four Down, But Loses in 13th

By John Nolan

July 31, 2014

MIDLAND, Mich. -- For the second time in a week, the TinCaps overcame a 4-0 deficit. However, unlike Monday night at home against Wisconsin when Fort Wayne scored six unanswered runs in a 6-4 win, the TinCaps lost to the Great Lakes Loons, 5-4, in 13 innings Thursday.

Great Lakes (18-21, 52-57) won the game when Delvis Morales scored from third base with two outs on a wild pitch by Jason Jester (0-1).

Fort Wayne (17-22, 47-61) fell behind 4-0 early in the game before storming back. The Loons scored twice in the first inning, once in the second, and once more in the fifth against left-hander Jeffery Enloe.

The TinCaps' comeback started with two outs and no one on base in the top of the sixth. Great Lakes starter Scott Barlow was cruising until he walked Franmil Reyes on four pitches. That brought up designated hitter Adolfo Reina who raked his eighth home run of the season deep to left field. The very next batter, catcher Ryan Miller, followed suit with his 10th longball of the year to cut Fort Wayne's deficit to 4-3.

The Summit City squad tied the game, 4-4, in the top of the eighth on an RBI double that scored Fernando Perez, who began the frame with an infield single.

Both sides squandered opportunities to win the game before the 13th. Fort Wayne went 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and left 11 on base. Great Lakes was 5-for-21 with runners in scoring position, while leaving 13 on.

The TinCaps are now 7-7 in extra-inning games this season.

The TinCaps continue their six-game sojourn in Michigan on Friday at West Michigan for the first of three. Ronald Herrera is slated to start the 7:00 p.m. game for Fort Wayne against Austin Kubitza. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app.