Lee Orr paid close attention to how Bowling Green closer Austin Hubbard pitched Fort Wayne teammate Mike Gallic.The TinCaps trailed the Hot Rods by a run in the ninth May 20 at Parkview Field.Rymer Liriano had three hits, including a two-run home run, as the TinCaps advanced to the Eastern Division championship series with a 5-1 victory against Bowling Green in Friday at Bowling Green (Ky.) Ballpark.
Mark Hardy pitched eight shutout innings as Fort Wayne won the first round series 2-0.
Hardy gave up four hits. He retired 16 consecutive batters during one stretch. Hardy finished with seven strikeouts and no walks.
The TinCaps will play either Dayton or Lansing in the next round. The Dragons lead that series 1-0. Game 2 Friday at Lansing was in a rain delay.
Fort Wayne scored once in the first inning. Cory Spangenberg doubled, moved to third on a single by Liriano and scored on a wild pitch.
Liriano hit a two-run home run in the third inning.
Liriano doubled in the fifth inning. He later scored on a single by Luis Domoromo to extend the lead to 4-0.
Wes Cunningham led off the sixth inning with a double to left. Rocky Gale followed with a double to right field, plating Cunningham with Fort Wayne’s fifth run.
