TinCaps Win MWL Title Series Opener

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE)-- - Click on the VIDEO tab for game highlights and an extended interview with manager Doug Dascenzo.

Fort Wayne TinCaps pitchers retired the final 13 batters of the game in order in a 6-2 comeback win over the Burlington Bees, Tuesday at Parkview Field in Game 1 of the Midwest League Championship Series. Daniel Robertson had three hits and Robert Lara scored three runs.

The TinCaps scored the final five runs of the game. The bullpen trio of RHPs Alexis Lara, Nick Schumacher and Brad Brach combined on three scoreless innings to preserve the lead.

Burlington jumped ahead in the top of the 1st with a two-out rally. David Wood and Jason Taylor stroked singles, then Shawn Griffin bounced an RBI single into center field to make it 1-0 Bees.

Fort Wayne rebounded in the bottom of the 1st as Daniel Robertson pounded a one-out single to center, stole second, went to third on a wild pitch, then came home on Vince Belnome’s game-tying groundout.

The Bees struck again in the 3rd; Adrian Ortiz hit a leadoff single, stole second and scored two batters later on Taylor’s RBI single to left.

From that point on, TinCaps RHP Erik Davis locked in, retiring 10 of the last 11 batters he faced.

Meanwhile, Fort Wayne tied it in the 5th against Burlington RHP Tim Melville. Lara singled to left, went to third on a single by Kevin Hansen and scored on a balk. The TinCaps loaded the bases later in the inning, but could not push across the go-ahead run until the 6th.

In the 6th, Cole Figueroa roped a leadoff double down the left-field line. Two batters later, Justin Baum doubled into the left-field corner to collect his 8th RBI of the playoffs and put Fort Wayne ahead, 3-2. Lara walked and two batters later, Blake Tekotte beat out an infield single and the shortstop’s throw was wild, allowing Baum to race in and score from second. Robertson followed by bouncing an RBI single to right to make it 5-2. The final run scored in the 8th when Lara drew a leadoff walk, went to second on a wild pitch and later scored on another wild pitch.

Davis (17-7) was the winning pitcher, allowing two runs on six hits and one walk while striking out five. Bees RHP Justin Garcia (4-7) took the loss, yielding three runs in the 6th. The TinCaps improved to 99-48 for the season. Burlington fell to 68-76 overall.

Fort Wayne and the Burlington (Class-A Kansas City Royals) play Game 2 of the Midwest League Championship Series Wednesday at 7:05pm at Parkview Field in downtown Fort Wayne. It is the final home game of the year for the TinCaps; the series shifts to Burlington for the final three games of the series. RHP Chris Fetter (2-1) gets the start for the TinCaps against Burlington RHP Mike Lehmann (5-7).