After six runs in the first three innings and a six-inning shutout by starter Justin Hancock, the TinCaps looked to be cruising to a win against Bowling Green on Thursday.
FORT WAYNE – It was an explosive fourth at Parkview Field.
In more ways than one.
The TinCaps scored seven runs in the fourth inning Wednesday on the way to an 8-1 victory over Bowling Green.
A crowd of 7,686 packed Parkview Field for an Independence Day game and postgame fireworks.
The first-place TinCaps made plenty of noise with their bats in the fourth as 11 batters came to the plate.
“There were a lot of key hits, a lot of timely hits,” said Kyle Gaedele, who went 2 for 4 with two RBI and one run scored.
Fort Wayne (9-4, 40-43 overall) entered the bottom of the fourth leading 1-0. Yeison Asencio and Zach Kometani started the inning with back-to-back singles. The two moved up a base on a wild pitch.
With one out, Bowling Green (7-6, 45-38) pitcher Roberto Gomez got behind in the count to Travis Whitmore. He decided to intentionally walk the left-handed hitter to get to the right-handed hitting Tyler Stubblefield.
Stubblefield came through with a bloop single to center, bringing home Asencio.
“I was down 1-2 and I told myself, ‘Do what you can to put the ball in play,’ ” Stubblefield said.
“He made a really good pitch, and I found a hole, and it broke an inning open for the rest of the team.”
Indeed it did.
Gaedele followed with a two-run single to left field.
“I just noticed he was throwing a lot of off-speed,” Gaedele said. “He threw a breaking ball middle-in, and I put my hands in and it found the barrel.”
Travis Jankowski placed down a perfect bunt for an infield hit, which loaded the bases for Jace Peterson.
Peterson singled to left. The ball got past Josh Sale and three runs scored to make it 7-0. Peterson was credited with two RBI.
He scored the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly by Asencio.
The seven runs match a season-high for most in an inning for the TinCaps. It’s the fourth time the team has reached the mark.
“Guys went up there and waited for their pitch to hit. They worked the count, aggressive, but selective,” TinCaps manager Jose Valentin said.
Fort Wayne starting pitcher Frank Garces (5-4) gave up three hits in five scoreless innings to win his fourth straight decision. The TinCaps have won seven of their last nine games.
“The pitching has been great all year,” Gaedele said. “Our hitting has been a lot better this half. If our pitching keeps going and our hitting keeps going, I think we’ll be good.”
Notes: The TinCaps announced a roster move before the game. Outfielder Kyung-Min Na was promoted to Double-A San Antonio. Kometani, an infielder, was activated from the disabled list at San Antonio and sent to Fort Wayne. … The TinCaps raised $3,815 through a uniform auction with the proceeds going to Honor Flight Northeast Indiana.
