FORT WAYNE — On Saturday night, the TinCaps offense waited until the sixth inning before getting things going and ultimately claiming an extra-innings win.
Kannon Kemp delivered for the TinCaps. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
Sunday, there was no such second-half surge as Fort Wayne managed just four hits. That squandered a stellar showing from Kannon Kemp and three relievers that sent the game to extra-innings scoreless before Great Lakes rallied for a 2-0 win.
Kemp, 21, tossed five scoreless frames, allowing only three singles and a pair of walks while striking out four. The righty from Texas, who has now gone five innings three times in his last five starts as he continues to work back from an early-season stint on the 60-day IL, ran his fastball up to 98 at times and also showed better feel for his slider.
“He commanded the baseball,” said TinCaps manager Jonathan Mathews. “I was very happy with how he threw the ball. He pitches now.
“He obviously has good stuff, but to see him be able to manage his way through the game has been impressive the last few outings.”
Ryan Wideman continues to find ways to be disruptive on the bases. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
The TinCaps had a few opportunities early as Ryan Wideman created havoc on the bases, but weren’t able to convert. Batting second, Wideman was hit by a pitch in the first inning. After drawing a pair of throws over early in the count, he took an increasingly aggressive lead, eventually drawing a third pickoff attempt as he danced around more than 10 feet off the base. He was ruled safe going back to first, earning a balk and free pass to second base. He then broke for third as Great Lakes tried to run a pickoff play behind him at second and simply outran the ball to third base for his 21st Midwest League stolen base. The TinCaps stranded him there.
Leading off in the third inning, Wideman reached as Dodgers’ top prospect Emil Morales rushed a throw on a grounder. Wideman then immediately started dancing again, inducing a traditional balk. He then stole third again as Yimy Tovar walked. With runners on the corners, Wideman took a less aggressive lead from third, but when the Dodgers threw to first, he broke for home. This time, he couldn’t make the chaos work, getting thrown out handily.
Mathews, who noted on Saturday that the club’s success the rest of the way would likely hinge on aggressive baserunning, admitted that tradeoffs come with that approach.
“There’s a little give-and-take. You want to make educated decisions and live with the consequences,” said Mathews. “We took a shot with the first-and-third and it didn’t work out.”
Wideman, who finished the day 0-for-4 at the plate, made the play of the game in the field. Lined up to the left field side of second base, Wideman went deep into the right-center gap to track down a ball off the bat of Eduardo Quintero with a runner at first and no outs. The play likely saved a run and gave Kemp a chance to work out of the frame.
After Kemp left the game, Will Koger and newly-promoted Brandon Langley kept the Loons in check for three hitless innings. Bernard Jose kept things going in the ninth, working around a leadoff hit by getting a double play grounder. When the TinCaps couldn’t muster a ninth inning rally, Jose went back out of the 10th and gave up a game-deciding two run homer to Great Lakes’ number eight hitter Eduardo Guerrero.
Notes: Infielder Rosman Verdugo left the game after the second inning after experiencing some tingling in his right arm and hand. He’ll be evaluated in advance of the next series. … Bradley Frye went 1-for-4, but his most impressive at-bat came in the eighth when he drew a 13-pitch walk. He has posted a .942 OPS since arriving in the Summit City. … Fort Wayne begins its final home series of the year Tuesday when Dayton comes to town. They’ll finish on the road in Lansing.
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