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The TinCaps began the new half with a new look. But the result was the same.
The Midwest League Eastern Division first-half champions opened the second half of the season with an 8-4 victory against South Bend in front of 6,109 fans at Parkview Field.
“The kids came out, and it looked like they didn’t miss a beat,” TinCaps manager Doug Dascenzo said. “We didn’t say anything to them. We looked up on the board and saw the record was 0-0. We knew we had a game to play, and they went out and played it.”
One-third of the regular starting lineup earned a promotion Thursday. One of the players added, third baseman Justin Baum, had an RBI double.
Center fielder Blake Tekotte added a three-run home run as Fort Wayne (1-0, 46-25) improved to 12-1 against the Silver Hawks this season. Tekotte had two hits, scored three runs and knocked in four. Shortstop Drew Cumberland added a two-run home run.
“(Matt) Clark leaves and (James) Darnell leaves, so I guess Tekotte and Cumberland take over the power spots,” Dascenzo said with a laugh.
Before the game, the TinCaps announced the promotions of third baseman Darnell, first baseman Clark, outfielder Sawyer Carroll and pitcher Nick Schmidt. Darnell and Carroll were all-stars, with Carroll earning MVP honors. Clark hit a team-high 11 homers, and Schmidt allowed just one earned run in his last 31 innings.
Baum was one of three additions. The infielder spent all of last year in Fort Wayne, batting .264 with nine homers and 70 RBI. He had a .213 average with two homers and 15 RBI this year in San Diego’s advance-A team in Lake Elsinore, Calif.
Yefri Carvajal also joined from Lake Elsinore. Outfielder Chadd Hartman joined the team from San Diego’s short-season team in Eugene, Ore.
“We remember Justin and Carvajal from last year,” Dascenzo said. “They will fit right in.”
Tekotte’s home run, his eighth, came in the second inning to give the TinCaps a 5-0 lead.
Cumberland was an unlikely source of power. His two-run homer, with two outs in the fourth, was his first. The blast to right opened up an 8-3 lead. Cumberland went 3 for 4.
“I was going to jump on the first pitch if it was there. It looked good to me,” Cumberland said. “A squirrel finds a nut every now and then.”
Simon Castro (5-4) allowed four runs in six innings. The right-handed pitcher struck out six while walking two.
Notes: Left-hander Rob Musgrave has been activated from the disabled list. … Pitcher Mat Latos and outfielder Luis Durango, who both spent time in Fort Wayne, will play in the Futures Game in St. Louis in July. … The game was delayed by rain for 14 minutes at the start of the ninth inning.
