Moreno Squeeze Helps TinCaps Win
FORT WAYNE – For the second time this season, the TinCaps won in walk-off fashion as they defeated the Lansing Lugnuts, 5-4 in the bottom of the 10th inning on Saturday night turned into Sunday morning. Edwin Moreno’s suicide-squeeze bunt plated Nick Torres from third base to win the game.
With one out in the 10th and the game tied, 4-4, Torres drew a walk and then sprinted to third base after Duanel Jones singled to center field. Lugnuts manager Ken Huckaby then brought in right fielder J.D. Davis to play as a fifth infielder. With runners at the corners, Fort Wayne manager Francisco Morales called for the bunt and Moreno – in his first plate appearance of the evening – placed it perfectly between the pitcher’s mound and first base.
The TinCaps previously walked off on April 16 against the South Bend Cubs. That night, Felipe Blanco drove in the game winning run in 10 innings.
Lansing (17-13) opened up the game with a first-inning run. Anthony Alford scored from third base after a sacrifice fly from Richard Urena.
But the home team responded in the bottom half of the frame. Jones crushed a three-run home run over the left-field wall to make it 3-1. It was his second straight night with a dinger. Jones now has five home runs on the year, tied for second in the Midwest League. Meanwhile, his 24 RBIs are tied for the league lead.
Fort Wayne (10-17) added another run and extended their lead to 4-1 in the bottom of the sixth. Franmil Reyes drove in Torres after he singled to start the inning.
But the visitors hung around and scored two runs in the seventh and one more in the eighth to tie the game at 4-4.
Not to be forgotten among the post-game celebration, but Torres is now on a ten-game hitting streak. He notched his 12th multi-hit game of the season as well.
Peyton Baskette (1-1) recorded his first win of the season, while Chase Mallard (1-2) was handed the loss. TinCaps starter Yimmi Brasoban received a no decision after allowing only one run on three hits in five innings.
The win clinched the TinCaps’ second series victory of the year. The team has an off on Sunday for Mother’s Day and returns to action against the Lake County Captains on Monday. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. and the game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app, and seen on Comcast Network 81.