Loons fall in series opener with 5-2 loss to the Fort Wayne Tincaps

 

The Great Lakes Loons (24-42) gave up 2-runs in the bottom of the eighth, dropping a 5-2 decision to the Fort Wayne (IN.) Tincaps (San Diego Padres) in front of 6,169 at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, IN tonight.

 

The Loons had jumped out to an an early lead when CF Brayan Morales singled to lead off the game, stole second base, moved to third on a wild pitch, then scored on a soft ground-out to the right side of the infield off the bat of first baseman Jared Walker for a 1-0 Loons lead in the top half of the first inning, before the Tincaps answered when LF Robbie Podorsky singled then scored on an RBI-single off the bat of Fort Wayne DH Luis Compusano to tie the game at 1-run apiece in the bottom of the first. 

 

Fort Wayne pulled ahead when Podorsky led of the bottom of the third with a triple and scored on a sac fly RBI by CF Jeisson Rosario to take a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the third, before extending its lead when first baseman Nick Feight reached on a 1-out double in the fourth, then was driven in by Podorsky for a 3-1 Tincaps lead in the bottom of the fourth inning.

 

The Loons would get to within a run of the Caps in the fifth when Great Lakes DH Brandon Montgomery (5) smacked his fifth home run of the year, a 1-out solo shot over the center field wall at Parkview Field, cutting the Tincaps' lead to 3-2 midway through the fifth inning.

 

Great Lakes starter Edwin Uceta (1-4, 4.22 ERA) was tagged with his fourth loss of the season after giving up 3-runs on 8-hits, while striking out 5-batters through 4-innings, before he was replaced by reliever Riley Ottesen to start the fifth.

 

Ottesen hit a batter and walked another 2-batters in the fifth, but managed to work himself out of the bases-loaded jam with 1-strikeout through 1-inning of relief.

 

Fort Wayne added to its lead when RF Jack Suwinski reached on a walk in the eighth and moved all the way to third on a Loons throwing error, then scored on a bunt single by Podorsky, before Podorsky then scored on a triple by Tincaps' second baseman Esteury Ruiz to build a 5-2 Fort Wayne lead in the bottom of the eighth.

 

Loons reliever Justin Hoyt (5.12 ERA) finished out the game, giving up 2-runs on 3-hits and 1-walk, while striking out 4-batters through 3-innings.

 

Montgomery was 2 for 4 with his fifth HR of the year and 1-walk to lead the Loons' offense, while the bottom three hitters (7-8-9) in the Great Lakes batting order; Brock Carpenter, Darrell Miller Jr., and Moises Perez all finished with multiple hits, each going 2 for 4 respectively for the Loons.

 

The Loons and Tincaps will meet up for the second game of this 3-game series at 7:05 pm tomorrow evening, before wrapping up the series; along with the completion of the first half of the 2018 MWL season, at 1:05 pm right back here at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, IN on Sunday afternoon.