Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.Lake County’s Trent Baker hit a long fly to left field.
The ball bounced off the top of the wall, popped up and then fell to the field. Baker thought it was a home run, but umpires ruled the fifth-inning hit a double.
He should have taken Nate Freiman’s approach of leaving no doubt.
The TinCaps’ first baseman hit a three-run home run to left-center field in the bottom of the sixth, providing the difference in a 3-2 victory over the Captains in front of 7,674 fans Friday at Parkview Field. It’s the 21st sellout of the season, extending a franchise record for most sellouts in a season.
“I was impressed with the way (Lake County starter Vidal Nuno) was throwing against us. He made one mistake, and Nate put a good swing on it,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “He left that one pitch up and Nate was ready. He did not miss that pitch. It’s always good to come back and get these kinds of victories.”
Fort Wayne (29-18, 65-52 overall) won for the10th time in 12 games. The TinCaps captured their 31st comeback win and improved to 24-23 in one-run games.
“The first place to start is the pitching. We scored three and won. That’s all that needs to be said,” Freiman said.
“(Starting pitcher Mike) Watt pitched unbelievable, (reliever Jon) Berger got out of a jam with a guy on second. (Matt) Jackson came in, he gave up two runs, but he came back after that and held them. And Miles (Mikolas) shut the door. Anytime you win scoring three runs, you have to give your pitching staff credit.”
Watt struck out four and gave up two hits in four shutout innings. Berger surrendered the loud double to Baker but pitched out of danger in a scoreless fifth.
Chris Kersten hit a two-run homer off Jackson in the sixth for Lake County (22-25, 66-50). Jackson settled in and didn’t allow a run the next two innings for the win.
Freiman gave him the lead with his home run.
“He was patient,” Flores said. “The first couple of at-bats it looked like he was chasing a little bit on the off-speed pitches. (Nuno) fell behind and kept going to the curveball. He got to the 3-1 count and he was ready.”
Freiman credited teammate Jason Hagerty, who walked ahead of him to give Fort Wayne runners on first and second with two outs. Hagerty and Danny Payne had two hits.
“Don’t tell him I said this, but I’m getting to hit behind probably the best hitter in the league right now (in Hagerty). The way they pitch Hags is a pretty good indication the way they are going to pitch me,” Freiman said.
“The best part of that was the at-bat Hags had before me. He was patient, he saw some curveballs late. So I had the opportunity to see that they were probably going to throw me a curveball. It’s always a little risky looking curveball, but I was lucky. A lot of it goes back to Hags having that patient at-bat before me. It’s great hitting behind him.”
