FORT WAYNE — The TinCaps dropped their third straight game of the series as once again the Great Lakes Loons’ top prospects made the difference in the 6-2 victory.
Carson Montgomery delivers in the heat for Fort Wayne. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Carson Montgomery got the start for the TinCaps and generally threw well in his 83-pitch outing, but Great Lakes made him pay for a couple of mistakes.
“I don’t have Twitter or Instagram, but from what I understand, that is one of the most talented teams in all of minor league baseball, and it shows,” said TinCaps manager Jonathan Mathews.
“He didn’t give up a ton of hits, but the ones Carson did were damaging. He got us through five innings and battled. Carson is a competitor.”
The Loons were up 6-0 going into the bottom of the ninth, when the TinCaps were able to stage a rally when the first three batters reached base. With one out, Rosman Verdugo rocketed a shot by the third baseman for a two-run double. That was all the TinCaps would manage as the final two batters went down on strikes.
A trio of highly-regarded Dodgers prospects once again led the charge against Fort Wayne. Eduardo Quintero clubbed a two-run home run, reached base three times, and drove in three. Charles Davalan reached base three times and scored twice, and shortstop Emil Morales (#48) also had a solo home run.
The TinCaps had six hits on the evening, but only Verdugo’s double in the ninth was for extra bases. Despite drawing five walks, Fort Wayne was only 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position.
An offensive highlight for the team was left fielder Alex McCoy, who was 2-for-4 on the night with a walk, reached base on an error, and had a stolen base.
Alex McCoy reached base four times on Thursday. (Photo: Adam Gaddy)
“That was a really good baseball game by Alex,” said Mathews. “He got a great jump on a lefthander for the stolen base, made a nice play to throw out a guy at second base, and was on base four times.
“That was a great game by a kid who is turning himself into a baseball player and not just a really good athlete.”
McCoy, who had a 1.069 OPS in April but slowed down in May and June, is beginning to adjust to the Midwest League, where he has seen a steady diet of breaking balls.
“The first step is starting to handle the fastball, and he proved he could do that,” said Mathews.
“Now he is going to have to adjust and refine his approach and sit soft stuff early in the count, as long as he picks a lane. He’s starting to have more proactive at-bats where he is in charge of the at-bat, instead of reacting to what the pitcher is trying to do to him.”
TinCaps’ Notes: The TinCaps have now lost five straight games and will attempt to correct the course with Futures Game-selectee Kash Mayfield taking the mound on Friday. … In addition to Quintero, Davalan and Morales, the Great Lakes squad also featured lefties Zach Root, Sterling Patick and third baseman Chase Harlan, who are all in their Top 30. The Dodgers have the second-ranked system in minor league baseball.
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