[weaver_youtube oYLCX4myHCw rel=0]

FORT WAYNE – Marcus Greene Jr. lasered a walk-off home run over the left-field wall to give the TinCaps a 2-1 victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers) on Friday night at Parkview Field.

Filling in for normal starting catcher Austin Allen, Greene went 2-for-3 with a walk. The game-winning big fly marked his fifth home run of the season. It was Fort Wayne’s seventh walk-off win of the season and the first walk-off homer for a TinCap since Franmil Reyes hit one against West Michigan on May 29, 2015.

David Bednar (W, 3-3) worked a perfect ninth inning for Fort Wayne (23-38 second half, 59-72 overall). Starting pitcher Anderson Espinoza ceded just one run over five frames, and reliever Blake Rogers tossed three shutout innings.

The TinCaps edged ahead during the home third on a Carlos Belen RBI single that plated Peter Van Gansen.

West Michigan (27-32, 66-60) pulled even two innings later when Cam Gibson scored. Whitecaps starter Beau Burrows surrendered one run over five frames, giving way to Trent Szkutnik (L, 3-3), who allowed Greene’s home run.

Greene, Van Gansen (2-for-4), Chris Baker (2-for-4) and Kodie Tidwell (2-for-4) each had multi-hit nights for the TinCaps.

Fort Wayne returns to Parkview Field for the second contest of the four-game series Saturday night.

Both teams get back at it Saturday night at 7:05 p.m.