Hassell Homers in Return to Lineup

June 12, 2022 – Midwest League (MWL) – Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – Center fielder Robert Hassell III doubled and hit a two-run homer in his first start in two weeks, but the Lake County Captains (Cleveland Guardians affiliate) rallied late to beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps, 5-3, on Sunday afternoon at Parkview Field.

Hassell, the No. 2 Padres prospect, was just reinstated from the team’s Covid List on Saturday. The left-handed batter, who leads the Midwest League in batting average (.310), hit an opposite-field double off the left-field wall his first time up in the bottom of the first inning.

The game remained scoreless into the home sixth. That’s when first baseman Jack Stronach led off with a single, followed immediatley by a single from second baseman Kelvin Melean. Catcher Anthony Vilar came through with a sacrifice fly to plate Stronach. Two batters later, Hassell hammered his seventh home run of the season 414 feet out to right-center field to make it 3-0.

Meanwhile, TinCaps (22-35) pitchers didn’t allow a hit through the first seven innings. However, that changed when No. 14 Guardians prospect Petey Halpin bunted for a single to begin the eighth. Later in that frame, he scored on an RBI single by Cleveland’s No. 29 prospect Gabriel Rodriguez.

The Catpains (30-26) tied the game in the ninth as right fielder Jhonkensy Noel — a member of the Guardians’ 40-player roster — pulled a two-run homer over the left-field wall — his league-leading 15th of the year. Also in the inning, Halpin tripled and scored on a Johnathan Rodriguez double, and Rodriguez came across on another double by Gabriel Rodriguez.

No. 20 Padres prospect Efraín Contreras worked the first two innings on the mound for the ‘Caps, yielding only one walk. Brandon Komar followed with three perfect innings.

Next Game: Tuesday, June 14 @ Lansing Lugnuts (7:05 p.m.)

Fort Wayne Probable Starter: LHP Robert Gasser (No. 8 Padres prospect)

Lansing Probable Starter: RHP Osvaldo Berrios

Watch: MiLB.TV

Listen: 1380 The Fan & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com

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