FORT WAYNE – The TinCaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts, 3-2, on Wednesday night for their 16th win in a row at Parkview Field. The victory breaks the Fort Wayne franchise record for consecutive home win that was set in 2009.

The first-place TinCaps have a four-game lead on second-place West Michigan in the East with 12 games remaining in the regular season. With Lake County and South Bend tied for third place, 10 games back, Fort Wayne has a magic number of three to clinch a playoff spot for a seventh consecutive year.

The TinCaps raced out to a 2-0 lead in the first against Lugnuts starter Tom Robson (L, 1-1). Second baseman Josh VanMeter and designated hitter Ruddy Giron both singled with one out to put runners at second and third base (Giron advanced to second on his hit as the throw went to third). Right fielder Franmil Reyes hit a sacrifice fly to right field to score VanMeter and move Giron to third base. He scored on the play as well as the another throw to third got away.

Lansing (26-31, 68-59) put up a run in the top of the second.

Fort Wayne (39-19, 71-55), however, got it right back as first baseman Trae Santos hit a solo home run to right field. For Santos, it was his team-leading 13th home run of the season (which is also tied for third most in the Midwest League), and his second in as many nights.

Although the TinCaps didn’t score after that, starting pitcher Chris Huffman (W, 9-6) held the Lugs to one run over his six innings of work. The right-hander limited Lansing to four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Taylor Cox tossed a scoreless seventh inning out of the Fort Wayne bullpen. The Lugnuts scored once against T.J. Weir in the eighth, but Colby Blueberg (S, 20) pitched a perfect ninth to add to his division-leading save total.

The 2009 TinCaps, who went on to win the MWL title, won 15 in a row at home from June 6-July 15 that year.

The TinCaps attempt to keep their record-setting home winning streak going on Thursday at 7:05 against the Lake County Captains. Fort Wayne is set to start Thomas Dorminy (10-7, 3.09) against Sean Brady (7-10, 3.64) in a matchup of left-handers. The game can be watched on Comcast Network 81, and heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app.