Lansing showed Fort Wayne exactly why it is the top team in the Midwest Leaague on Friday, as the Lugnuts held the TinCaps scoreless for the first time this season in a 7-0 win at Parkview Field.
Lansing's Anthony DeSclafani and Noah Syndergaard combined to allow seven hits and strike out nine in the Lansing victory.
Fort Wayne (31-35) fell behind 1-0 in the second inning on a solo home run by K.C. Hobson. TinCaps starter Adys Portillo (4-4) surrendered two more runs, one of which was unearned, in the third inning, allowing Lansing to advance to a 3-0 lead. Portillo worked five innings, surrendering four hits, three runs, two of them earned, walking two and striking out six.
Lansing (45-20) pitching was dominant throughout, allowing just one hit over the first three innings. DeSclafani went a career-high five innings for the victory. He allowed four hits, walked two and struck out three. Syndergaard worked the final four innings, giving up three hits, walking two and striking out six. He earned his first career save.
The TinCaps went 0-6 with runners in scoring position, and stranded eight men on base.
Fort Wayne is the last Midwest League team to be shut out this season. Every other team in the league had been blanked at least once.
The teams will meet today at 7:05 p.m.
The scheduled starters are Colin Rea for Fort Wayne and David Rollins for Lansing.
