TinCaps hold off Lugnuts, 7-5

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Fort Wayne TinCaps (15-15) scored seven unanswered runs and survived a last-ditch rally in the ninth inning to defeat the Lansing Lugnuts (17-14), 7-5, in the rubber match of a three-game series on Sunday afternoon at Parkview Field.
Three quick TinCaps errors and a Ryan Schimpf two-run double had staked Lansing out to an early 4-0 advantage. Fort Wayne struck back with a run in the second, four in the fourth, and solo tallies in the fifth and sixth innings to take a 7-4 lead to the ninth.
Held to just one hit since the second inning, the Lugnuts refused to go quietly against Fort Wayne closer Nick Schumacher. Leading off, Balbino Fuenmayor reached on a third error of the game by shortstop Jonathan Galvez. Oliver Dominguez singled to left and Ryan Schimpf supplied a one-out RBI single. After Ryan Goins was called out on strikes, Mark Sobolewski lined a single through the glove of first baseman Nate Freiman to load the bases and bring up clean-up hitter Brad Glenn.
Glenn worked the count to 2-2 against Schumacher before grounding out to second base, simultaneously ending the game and his 23-game on-base streak.
Fort Wayne starter John Hussey (3-0) earned the win, allowing four runs (two earned) on three hits in five innings. Schumacher picked up his fourth save.
Lansing starting pitcher Ryan Shopshire (2-2) took the loss, reached for six runs on eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
In defeat, Schimpf went 2-for-5 with three RBIs for Lansing while teammate Sobolewski went 3-for-5.
Six different TinCaps players notched multi-hit efforts, led by a 2-for-3, 4-RBI performance by third baseman Edinson Rincon.
The Nuts return home on Monday, May 10, for the start of a three-game series with the West Michigan Whitecaps. Left-hander Aaron Loup (2-0, 1.74) will start for the Lugnuts in the opener, slated for a 7:05 p.m. first pitch, opposed by touted West Michigan left-hander Jacob Turner (0-0, 2.13).