Whitecaps Sink TinCaps in Finale

Comstock Park, MI - Despite an early 4-0 lead, the Fort Wayne TinCaps succumbed to a middle-innings offensive outburst from the West Michigan Whitecaps, falling, 9-7, Wednesday in the series finale. Jeremy Baltz led the way for Fort Wayne, going 2-5 with an RBI.

Baltz knocked in the first run of the game on an RBI single in the first inning, plating Mallex Smith. Fort Wayne (3-3) put up two more runs in the third and another in the fourth to establish their advantage. Starter Walker Weickel, making his Midwest League debut, rolled through the first three innings, allowing three hits and fanning two batters.

Trouble struck in the fourth as West Michigan (4-2) put up three runs, knocking Weickel from the game. The Whitecaps' biggest inning came in the fifth, as they scored six runs against the TinCaps. It was an eleven-batter, five-hit inning for West Michigan that allowed the home team to take the lead for good.

The TinCaps plated two runs in the top of the eighth, and brought the tying run to the plate in the ninth, but could not overcome the deficit. West Michigan outscored the Fort Wayne 20-9 in the two-game series, as Fort Wayne went just 5-for-26 with runners in scoring position over that same span.

The TinCaps come home to Parkview Field for the first time in 2013 Thursday night. The home opener, with a first pitch scheduled for 7:10, will see righty Joe Ross take the hill for Fort Wayne and righthander Luis Dejesus on the mound for the Lake County Captains. The game can be heard on The Fan 1380 or on TheFanFortWayne.com.