COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The TinCaps crushed the Whitecaps, 12-2, in the finale of their three-game series on a damp and dreary Monday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark. Ernesto Montas blanked West Michigan for six innings, while Fort Wayne’s offense erupted for a 14-hit performance.

Nick Vilter, who had the first three-hit game of his professional career, put the TinCaps on the board 2-0 in the second inning with a two-out, two-run single. Vilter was added to the team’s roster last Tuesday after Josh VanMeter went on the disabled list.

Nick Torres then extended the Fort Wayne (3-6) lead in the third inning with a solo home run. After hitting one homer in their first eight games of the season, the TinCaps launched three longballs on Monday.

Vilter stretched Fort Wayne’s advantage to 4-0 in the fourth with a run-scoring triple. Edwin Moreno hit a solo shot and Duanel Jones added an RBI-single in the fifth to make it 6-0. That damage came against Whitecaps starter Fernando Perez (L, 0-2).

The TinCaps turned the game into a route in the sixth inning against reliever Chase Edwards when Felipe Blanco, Moreno, Michael Gettys, and Jones all had RBI-hits.

Although West Michigan (6-6) put up two runs in the seventh against reliever Seth Lucio, Trae Santos vaulted a two-run blast in the ninth off Taylor Ford to stretch the lead back to double digits.

For his part on the mound, Montas (W, 2-0) scattered three hits and a walk. The slender, 6-foot-2, 22-year-old from the Dominican struck out three. Montas threw 76 pitches — 52 of which were strikes. In 11 innings this season, he’s allowed only one run.

Lucio pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Bryan Verbitsky kept the Whitecaps off the board in the ninth.

With the win, the TinCaps avoided being swept in the three-game series. Eight hitters in the lineup had at least one hit — four had multiple hits. Seven guys had at least one RBI — four had more than one RBI.

Fort Wayne continues its six-game swing through Michigan on Tuesday at 7:05 p.m. against Lansing. In a pairing of left-handers, the TinCaps are set to start Taylor Cox (0-0, 6.75) against Shane Dawson (0-1, 2.70) for the Lugnuts. The game can be heard on ESPN Radio 1380, TinCaps.com, and the TuneIn Radio app.