The Fort Wayne offense cooled off more than the temperature on Sunday, as the TinCaps dropped a 3-1 Midwest League game at South Bend.
The TinCaps connected for just a pair of hits through the first eight innings, and managed their lone run in the ninth, avoiding a shutout, as they lost their third straight ballgame.
Fort Wayne starter Cody Hebner (6-4) surrendered a second-inning leadoff home run to South Bend’s Matt Helm, which put the Silver Hawks in front 1-0 at the end of two frames.
Hebner did not finish the fifth inning, recording just one out and allowing two runs in that frame before being pulled from the game. Johnny Barbato ended the fifth by getting Eric Groff to line into a double play. At the end of the fifth, Fort Wayne (10-6 second half, 41-46) had accumulated only three base runners against Silver Hawks starter JR Bradley (6-5).
The right-hander worked a career-high eight innings, and faced two batters in the ninth inning. He allowed back-to-back base hits to Jace Peterson and Mike Gallic before Manager Mark Haley put 2012 draftee Jake Barrett on the mound.
Barrett, who earned his third save, allowed a sacrifice fly by Duanel Jones, but faced just three batters and threw six pitches, to close out the South Bend win.
