Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
The TinCaps walked away with an unbelievable win Saturday.
Bowling Green’s Scott Shuman walked five consecutive batters in the bottom of the ninth and then hit Jonathan Galvez, bringing home Nate Freiman to give Fort Wayne a 6-5 victory.
It is the fourth time the TinCaps have won win trailing in the ninth.
“It’s fun. These guys battle to the last out,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “We’ve had situation where we’ve come back in the ninth inning and snuck by with the win. We’ve done it with patience and delivering when we can.”
Fort Wayne showed plenty of patience in the ninth, scoring three runs without a hit to win in front of 8,012 fans.
The TinCaps loaded the bases on three walks. Jedd Gyorko then walked to make it 5-4. Edinson Rincon followed with a walk to tie the game.
Galvez got hit by the first pitch and the TinCaps matched their season high with a sixth straight victory.
“I was just looking for my pitch but I was waiting because (Shuman) was overthrowing,” Galvez said. “The pitch touched me a little bit.
“We were positive we could win. Everyone on this team has confidence.”
It looked like the TinCaps (25-16, 61-50 overall) were headed toward a tough loss. Fort Wayne entered the ninth leading 3-0, but closer Miles Mikolas gave up five runs.
Tyler Bortnick began the inning with a home run.
Bowling Green loaded the bases on two hits and a walk. Julio Cedeno hit a sacrifice fly to right, bringing home a run to make it 3-2. Pinch hitter Mark Thomas hit a single, driving in Brett Nommensen with the tying run.
Bennett Davis and Thomas moved up a base on a double steal. Dustin Biell then hit a grounder to Rincon. The third baseman hesitated and then fired wildly home. Two runs scored, giving the Hot Rods the 5-3 lead.
The Hot Rods (19-22, 50-60) had two hits coming into the ninth. They had four in the final inning to pull ahead.
“With (Bowling Green) it’s a matter of who wants it more in the end. They battle to the last out also, they didn’t back down,” Flores said.
The TinCaps built their early lead on the long ball.
Jason Hagerty hit his team-leading 13th home run in the first inning. Hagerty went 2 for 2 with three walks.
“Hagerty has been fun to watch this last month,” Flores said.
“He’s drawing his walks. I believe his on-base percentage has been through the roof. When he gets his pitch, he’s not missing it.”
Dean Anna hit a pinch-hit two-run home run in the eighth.
Fort Wayne didn’t need to swing the bat to conclude the wild comeback.
“These guys have laid off tough pitches and it’s carrying over to every at-bat,” Flores said.
“Showing the patience and knowing he was having problems locating, they understood the situation.
“It’s the fight that these guys have. We’re playing until the last out is made.”
