LANSING, Mich. – Carlos Rodriguez went 3-for-3 with a two-run homer in the second and an RBI single in the fourth to spur the Fort Wayne TinCaps (27-35, 54-74) to a 8-6 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts (27-36, 56-71) on Friday night at JacksonⓇ Field™.
In defeat, Lansing first baseman Jake Reinisch went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBIs, extending his on-base streak to 43 games, the longest active streak in Minor League Baseball.
Reinisch and the Lugnuts out-hit the TinCaps 13-10, boosted by three doubles from Jared Davis, a single and double from Alex Fernandes (who scored three runs), and a pair of singles and walks from Bryan Arendt.
But the Lugnuts’ attempted comeback bid from 8-2 down fell two runs short.
In the bottom of the first, Fernandes drew a leadoff walk, and Davis knocked a ground ball back to TinCaps starter Nick Falter, who attempted to get the out at second base. Instead, the throw was off target and landed in center field, resulting in Fernandes on third and Davis on second with no outs. Two batters later, a Reinisch ground out plated Fernandes for a quick 1-0 Lugnuts lead.
Fort Wayne fired back in the second; with one out, Cantwell bounced a double off the wall in center field before Rodriguez slashed a two-out, two-run homer off starter Jose Dicochea to right field to give the ‘Caps a 2-1 advantage.
In the third, Rosman Verdugo drove in a run with an automatic double that bounced into the railing in right-center field for a 3-1 edge.
In the bottom of the third, Breyson Guedez kept the Lugnuts within one with a groundout RBI that scored Fernandes.
Rodriguez struck again in the fourth, this time with an infield RBI single that brought home Cantwell to make it 4-2. Fort Wayne added two more runs in the frame, courtesy of an error by Davis on a throw from third to first base that allowed King and Rodriguez to cross home plate for a 6-2 score.
In the fifth inning, a King RBI single paired with a Dylan Grego fielder’s choice RBI increased the deficit to six, but in the bottom of the frame, Guedez plated Fernandes with a groundout RBI, and Reinisch drove in Davis with an RBI single to left to make it 8-4.
Eighth-inning RBI singles from Guedez and Daniel Bucciero cut Fort Wayne’s lead to 8-6, but that was as close as Lansing could get in the defeat.
In the loss, Dicochea fired 3 ⅔ innings, allowing seven hits, six runs (four earned) and two walks with three strikeouts. Darlin Pinales pitched through the fourth, giving up two runs, one hit and three walks with a strikeout before Griffin Kirntook over, blanking the TinCaps over 2 ⅔ innings and allowing just two hits with three strikeouts.
Jorge Marcheco takes the mound for Lansing on Saturday, facing San Diego Padres No. 15 prospect Winyer Chourio. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. for Fan Appreciation Night, featuring a Jacob Wilson Bobblehead Giveaway, Nine Innings of Winnings and the final LAFCU Firework show of 2026 after the game. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05. For tickets and more information, call (517) 485-4500 or visit www.milb.com/lansing.
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