TinCaps strike early to top Loons

The TinCaps scored three runs in the first two innings and never trailed in posting a 4-1 victory over the Great Lakes Loons on Monday in Midland, Mich.

Fort Wayne (20-16 second half, 56-50 overall) scratched out five singles over the first two innings against Great Lakes starting pitcher Allen Webster, and finished with 11 hits.

Daniel Meeley, Jason Hagerty and Jedd Gyorko all hit two-out singles to produce a first-inning run, then in the second, Dean Anna and Danny Payne singled. When Meeley walked, it loaded the bases for Hagerty, who reached on a fielding error by the Great Lakes first baseman. The error enabled both Anna and Payne to score.

The Loons (28-8, 71-34) got their only run in the seventh inning off TinCaps starter Matt Lollis, who won his second game without a loss.

In 6 1/3 innings, Lollis allowed seven hits and struck out seven without issuing a walk.

Altogether, Lollis and relievers Jackson Quezada and Miles Mikolas struck out 12 and didn’t allow a walk.

The TinCaps got the run back in the top of the eighth when Payne led off with a single, stole second and scored on Meeley’s single to center.

The TinCaps, who play at Lansing, Mich., tonight, added left-handed pitcher Josh Spence to the roster. Spence was called up from Eugene, Ore.