[dropcap]F[/dropcap]ormer West Michigan Whitecap Adolfo Reina got a chance to play against his former team on Sunday afternoon and made the most of it, as he homered to help the Fort Wayne TinCaps win by a final score of 4-2 at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Reina played 55 games with the Whitecaps last year before being selected by the San Diego Padres in the Rule 5 Draft during the off-season. Reina has hit two home runs in 22 games for the TinCaps this year, both being game-winning shots against his former team.
The Whitecaps trailed 1-0 in the bottom of the second inning when Dominic Ficociello led off with a bunt single and later scored on a double off the bat of Jeff Holm. The Whitecaps would end up loading the bases before a groundout by Patrick Leyland gave West Michigan a brief 2-1 lead.
Fort Wayne answered back in the third, backed by a two-run home run by Reina. Although they would add another run in the fifth inning on a sacrifice fly from Jake Bauers to give them a 4-2 lead.
That was all the run support the TinCaps would need, as they shut down the Whitecaps’ offense for the rest of the game, as they would not allow a hit from the sixth inning on.
Payton Baskette (3-3) earned the win for the TinCaps, spreading out seven hits in six innings while allowing two runs. Eric Yardley and Nick Mutz (8) combined to pitch three perfect innings for the TinCaps to protect the lead.
Whitecaps’ starter Austin Kubitza (6-1) suffered his first loss of the season, allowing four runs and five hits while striking out seven and walking five in four innings.
Despite the loss, there was still some positive news from the game. After going 2-3 during the game, Ficociello extended his hitting streak to 17 games. Not only is it the longest active hitting streak in the Midwest League, but it also ties for the fifth-longest such streak in Whitecaps’ history. During the streak, Ficociello is hitting .403 with three home runs.
The Whitecaps return to action on Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. when they head to Lansing for a three-game series against the Lugnuts at Cooley Law School Stadium. Jon Maciel (3-3, 3.27 ERA) is scheduled to start for West Michigan against LHP Matt Dermody (3-4, 6.20 ERA) of Lansing.
