Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
FORT WAYNE – TinCaps starter Pedro Hernandez pitched well enough for a victory. Instead he had to watch the rest of Thursday’s fifth inning from the dugout.
The tying run stood at second base for Great Lakes following a failed rundown. There was only one out.
Stiven Osuna struck out Joe Becker and, after walking Nick Buss, battled back to strike out Blake Smith to get out of the jam. It was just the relief the TinCaps needed on the way to a 6-4 victory over the Loons in front of 6,705 fans at Parkview Field.
“I wasn’t thinking about striking anybody out,” Osuna said through interpreter and teammate Jeff Ibarra. “I just wanted to get people out. I wanted to work on throwing strikes and getting out of the inning.”
Osuna struck out three batters in 2 1/3 innings for the victory. He gave up three hits and an unearned run.
“Coming in there and being able to get the two strikeouts with runners in scoring position was really huge. It might have been the difference in the ballgame,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said.
“(Osuna is) pretty locked in right now. He’s using his stuff when he needs to, and he’s making big pitches in certain situations. That’s what helping us out.”
The TinCaps received major production from the bottom of the lineup. Edinson Rincon and Jonathan Galvez, the Nos. 7 and 8 hitters, both scored two runs. No. 9 hitter Everett Williams drove in two insurance runs in the fifth with a double as Fort Wayne lowered its magic number for clinching a playoff spot to two. Lansing lost West Michigan 10-6.
“It’s been fun to watch from the bottom of the order,” Flores said.
“These guys know what’s at stake. They are taking their at-bats to a whole other level right now.”
The TinCaps (37-22, 73-56 overall) also closed within three games of the Loons (40-19, 83-45) for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division standings.
Nate Freiman, Jason Hagerty and Williams had two hits apiece for Fort Wayne.
Hernandez gave up one earned run on two hits and struck out five but had to exit after 4 1/3 innings as the defense stumbled behind him. Fort Wayne had five errors, three behind Hernandez.
The TinCaps led 4-2, but Great Lakes had runners on second and third with one out in the fifth when Osuna entered and got out of the jam. Great Lakes went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position.
The TinCaps extended the lead with a two-out rally in the bottom of the inning.
Rincon and Galvez drew two-out walks. Williams then hit a two-run double down the right-field line.
Great Lakes scored one run in both the seventh and eight to get within 6-4. Miles Mikolas gave up a single, but nothing more, in the ninth for his 11th save.
