Mike Couzens has been named manager of broadcasting and media relations, the Fort Wayne TinCaps announced today.
FORT WAYNE – Everett Williams scooted up in the batter’s box for his fifth inning at-bat against Great Lakes pitcher Allen Webster.
Williams looked for a change-up, got one on the second pitch, and deposited it well beyond right-field wall for a home run.
It was the only run the TinCaps got, and would need, in a 1-0 victory against the Loons in Game 1 of the Eastern Division first-round playoffs Wednesday at Parkview Field.
Matt Lollis and three relievers allowed nine hits while blanking Great Lakes to take a 1-0 lead in the best-of-three series. Game 2 begins at 7:05 tonight at Dow Diamond in Midland, Mich.
“These guys knew what was at stake. We wanted to come out and win one at home and they went out and did it,” TinCaps manager Jose Flores said. “We didn’t have much offense, but we needed one blow. And that was the one by Williams.”
Fort Wayne collected just three hits. The first was an infield single by Jason Hagerty in the first inning.
The next hit, by Williams in the fifth, went a little farther.
“(Webster) gave me a pitch and I swung at it and good things happened,” Williams said.
Fort Wayne’s pitching and defense did the rest.
The TinCaps did not make an error on the way to handing the Loons just their sixth shutout this season.
Lollis battled through the first six innings. He gave up seven hits and walked two but struck out seven for the win.
“He’s been our go-to guy in the second half,” Flores said. “He attacked the strike zone. I knew there was a lot of adrenaline going for him, being 19. We talked in between innings to stay calm and make your pitches. And he did.”
Great Lakes placed a runner in scoring position in five of the six innings Lollis pitched. He got out of trouble each time.
His best escape job came in the fourth when the Loons placed runners on first and third with no outs. Lollis got Jaime Ortiz to pop out to short. Hagerty then threw out Rafael Ynoa on a stolen base attempt. Lollis struck out Brian Ruggiano to end the threat.
“I didn’t let myself get rattled,” Lollis said. “When guys got on base, I would focus a little bit harder on making my pitches.”
With runners on first and second and two outs in the seventh, Blake Smith hit a liner to right field off Matt Branham. Daniel Meeley made a nice running catch to end the inning.
Stiven Osuna and Miles Mikolas followed with perfect innings in the eighth and ninth, respectively, as the TinCaps took their first step in their quest to repeat as Midwest League champions.
“The biggest thing is to stay focused. One game is one game,” Flores said. “Every game we play from here out is the biggest game of the year. The guys understand it is not over. Hopefully the momentum carries over.”
