Former Norwell baseball player Josh VanMeter signed with the San Diego Padres on Tuesday.The shortstop, who was drafted in the fifth round with the 148th overall pick, got a $308,000 signing bonus from the Padres.Noah Syndergaard and two relievers limited the TinCaps to five hits as Lansing defeated Fort Wayne 4-0 Sunday at Thomas M. Cooley Law School Stadium.
The Lugnuts (31-29, 78-51 overall) scored three runs in the third inning. Michael Crouse drove in two with a double. Lansing scored an insurance run in the eighth inning.
Fort Wayne (34-28, 65-67) went 0 for 7 with runners in scoring position. The TinCaps have been shut out five times this season.
TinCaps starter Frank Garces (9-5) lasted on 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits.
Syndergaard (8-5) gave up four hits and struck out four in five innings.
With eight games remaining in the regular season, Fort Wayne is tied with Lake County for the top spot among qualifying teams in the Eastern Division.
The Captains (34-28, 65-66) hold the tie-breaker, placing the TinCaps currently as the second half wild card. Great Lakes defeated Lake County 4-2 Sunday.
West Michigan (32-30, 68-64) moved to within two games of a playoff spot with a 7-2 victory over Dayton. South Bend (30-32 , 65-67) remains four games back after losing to Bowling Green 10-4 on Sunday.
Lansing and Bowling Green qualified in the first half.
