TinCaps catcher Austin Allen set a new franchise record with a hit in his 24th consecutive game, as Fort Wayne throttled the Bowling Green Hot Rods (Tampa Bay Rays), 13-5, on Friday night at Parkview Field.
Allen ripped a leadoff double to left field in the fourth inning to move into sole possession of the longest hitting streak in franchise history, passing the 23-game stretch of former big leaguer Sean Burroughs in 1999.
The TinCaps (19-28 second half, 55-62 overall), meanwhile, joined Allen to combine on the team’s largest offensive outburst since a pair of 14-run showings in April, as Fort Wayne leveled the four-game series with the Hot Rods (31-15, 68-47).
A two-run single from first baseman Brad Zunica with the bases loaded gave the TinCaps a quick 2-0 lead just five batters into the game against Tyler Brashears (L, 6-1). The lead grew to 5-0 in the first with another two-run single courtesy of second baseman Peter Van Gansen and a wild pitch with a runner at third.
Third baseman Carlos Belen hit his 10th home run of the season in the second to balloon the lead to 7-0.
Bowling Green didn’t go down without a fight, though. The Hot Rods plated a run in the third, two in the fifth, and two more in the sixth to make it 7-5. Bowling Green threatened with the tying runs in scoring position in the seventh, but left-hander Elvin Liriano (S, 4) entered in relief with 2 2/3 scoreless innings as he struck out four.
Emmanuel Ramirez (W, 2-0) went the first five innings on the hill for Fort Wayne followed by Will Stillman.
The TinCaps grew their lead back and expanded it with a six-run home seventh. Left fielder Tyler Moore drove a two-run bases loaded double the opposite way to the wall in right. Allen added a sacrifice fly, while Belen provided an RBI single and right fielder Jose Carlos Ureña brought in two with a single.
All 10 Fort Wayne batters who appeared in Friday’s game reached base.
Next Game
Saturday, August 13 vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods at Parkview Field (7:05)
– TinCaps Probable Starter: RHP J.C. Cosme
– Hot Rods Probable Starter: RHP Jose Mujica
