LANSING, Mich. – The TinCaps staved off a furious Lansing rally in the ninth inning to win its second straight game, 5-4, over the Lugnuts at Cooley Law School Stadium.

Fort Wayne shut out the Lugnuts for eight innings on Friday and has now won three straight games against its foes from Lansing (24-18).

Both starters were locked in a pitcher’s duel during the first four innings. Neither Ernesto Montas (W, 3-3) nor Jesus Tinoco (L, 0-3) allowed a run. Montas shut out the league’s hottest offense during his five innings en route to his third victory of the season.

Fort Wayne (14-25) finally tagged Tinoco in the fifth. Franchy Cordero led off with a single and the next batter, Franmil Reyes, belted a two-run home run over the left-field wall to put his team in front, 2-0. It was his second long ball of the year.

Later in the eighth inning, Ruddy Giron clobbered a triple to right field and then scored after Michael Gettys doubled. Then it was Duanel Jones who plated Gettys with a base-hit to centerfield.

The visitors took a 5-0 lead in the top of the ninth inning when Chase Jensen drove in Trae Santos from second base after a double.

Lansing scratched out four runs in the bottom half of the frame, but reliever Kyle McGrath (S, 1) forced Josh Almonte to fly out to center field to end the game.

Fort Wayne bashed four extra-base hits on Friday. Francisco Morales’ crew is third in the Midwest League in that category.

The TinCaps are in line to win a season-high third game in a row on Saturday back at Cooley Law School Stadium. Chris Huffman (1-1, 3.00) and Shane Dawson (5-2, 3.20) are the probable starters.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app starting at 6:45 p.m.