Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
FORT WAYNE – The 90th pitch registered at 89 mph on the Parkview Field scoreboard.
Fort Wayne pitching coach Bronswell Patrick said the team’s gun had the pitch clocked at 93. Either way, Matt Lollis still had his good stuff in the eighth inning of Monday’s TinCaps game against Lansing.
Lollis and the TinCaps made quick work of Lansing in a 4-1 win in front of 3,882 fans at Parkview Field.
Lollis went 7 2/3 innings, matching a season-high for any Fort Wayne pitcher this year. The 6-foot-7 right-hander gave up one run on six hits in a game that lasted 2:20. He struck out three and walked one, helping Fort Wayne trim its magic number to a playoff berth to four. The magic number includes a tiebreaker edge the TinCaps (36-20, 72-54 overall) hold over the Lugnuts (26-30, 62-63).
“I felt like I was spotting up really well. I threw my breaking pitches when I needed to,” Lollis said. “I had all the confidence in the world in (catcher Jason) Hagerty. He called a great game and we pounded the zone.
“It’s all adrenaline. When I’m in there, it’s a lot of adrenaline. Deep in the eighth, my adrenaline is pumping. I’m trying to stay in there as long as I can.”
Lollis has pitched into the eighth inning in two straight starts. He went 7 2/3 innings in a 5-1 victory against West Michigan on Wednesday. Lollis has surrendered two earned runs in his last 15 innings.
“It seemed like he was on a mission,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “The last few outings have been the same. He’s going out there and giving our bullpen some rest.
“He’s done a great job since he’s been here. (Monday) was no different. He knew what he was doing out there in the mound.”
Lollis gave up a two-out single to Sean Ochinko in the first and then didn’t surrender another hit until the fifth.
He made one mistake, giving up a two-out single to Kevin Nolan that resulted in Lansing’s only run. Lollis left with runners on first and second and the team leading 4-1. Reliever Stiven Osuna struck out Brad Glenn to end the inning.
“Our bullpen has been strong and Osuna as of late has been lights out,” Flores said. “It’s always good to know you have the back end of the bullpen ready just in case a situation like that happens. He’s been throwing the ball really well as of late.”
Fort Wayne’s Jeudy Valdez went 3 for 4 with two doubles, two RBI and one run scored.
He knocked in Wande Olabisi and Danny Payne with his third-inning double.
Valdez is tied with Nate Freiman for the team lead in RBI (73).
“Jeudy is having a great year. He’s driven in some big runs,” Flores said. “He’s done everything we’ve asked. About a week ago, you can tell he was a little tired. He got some breaks here and there.
“Hopefully now he’s rejuvenated and he can carry it on through the rest of the season.”
