Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.FORT WAYNE – TinCaps right fielder Daniel Meeley sprinted back to the wall, hoping to track down Ender Inciarte’s long fly with two outs in the ninth.
Meeley then stopped and watched as the ball landed on the right-field patio.
Just like that, the TinCaps’ lead was gone. The team’s five-game winning streak followed.
Inciarte’s two-out, two-strike, two-run home run off closer Nick Schumacher lifted South Bend to a 4-3 victory in front of 5,807 fans Wednesday at Parkview Field.
“He threw a fastball right over the plate after two strikes and going with the slider the pitch before,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “He just left a fastball over the plate, and the guy didn’t miss it. That’s just a tough break.”
It was the first home run of the year for Inciarte, who came into the game with a .161 batting average. The No. 9 hitter went 3 for 4 with three RBI.
Schumacher was one strike away from his 22nd save. Instead, the Silver Hawks (12-18, 42-56 overall) handed him his fifth blown save.
“He’s been slapping the ball all game long away, away, away. We didn’t want him to get his arms extended. Unfortunately, he cheated on a fastball and hit it,” Schumacher said.
“What really killed me was the leadoff walk. You can’t have that coming in a one-run game. That opens up opportunities for everything that they want to do. I have to work on command a little bit. Other than that, just keep on going.”
Schumacher walked Tyson Van Winkle to begin the inning. Pinch-runner Victor Estevez moved to second on a passed ball and advanced to third on a sacrifice bunt.
With the infield in, Schumacher struck out David Narodowski. Schumacher got ahead of Inciarte 1-2 before giving up his third home run of the year.
The shocking conclusion wiped out a strong start from TinCaps pitcher Matt Lollis. The 6-foot-7 right-hander gave up two runs on six hits in six innings with eight strikeouts and no walks.
“It was a terrific outing by Lollis,” Flores said. “He located his fastball, he worked ahead. His slider was working for him. Overall, he threw the ball well.”
The TinCaps (17-14, 53-48) scored twice in the fourth to take a 3-1 lead. Edinson Rincon and Meeley had RBI singles in the inning.
Trailing 3-2, South Bend threatened in the seventh by loading the bases with one out. Reliever Miles Mikolas replaced Robert Poutier and got South Bend’s Keon Broxton to hit into an inning-ending double play.
The TinCaps weren’t as fortunate in the ninth.
“He just came with a fastball and thought he could get it by him. Maybe it wasn’t in enough for that situation,” Flores said. “He’s been our guy all year. You live with your closer, and you die with your closer.”
