Zach Kometani returned to the Fort Wayne’s starting lineup for the first time since April. And he came through with a clutch hit.

Kometani had a key two-out, two-run single in the first inning, helping Fort Wayne to an 8-3 victory against Bowling Green in front of 4,831 fans Thursday at Parkview Field.

Adys Portillo did not allow an earned run in five innings as the first-place TinCaps (10-4, 41-43 overall) won for the eighth time in 10 games.

The game started after a 1- hour, 6-minute rain delay.

Both pitchers looked rusty early. Portillo walked two in the top of the first. He struck out Todd Glaesmann and got Jeff Malm to pop out to second baseman Tyler Stubblefield to end the inning.

Bowling Green (7-7, 45-39) starting pitcher Trevor Shull wasn’t as fortunate.

Shull walked three batters during a four-run first for the TinCaps.

Travis Jankowski, Jace Peterson and Mike Gallic walked to start the inning.

Jankowski scored when Yeison Asencio grounded out to third. Peterson and Gallic moved up a base on the play.

Shull struck out Whitmore for the second out.

Kometani then came through with a single to left. Peterson and Gallic scored to make it 3-0.

Kometani started the season in Fort Wayne but was assigned to extended spring training on April 30. In 15 games with Fort Wayne he has hit .207 with one home run and nine RBI.

He played for San Diego’s Double-A team in San Antonio from June 15-25, where he went 5 for 9. He was activated from the disabled list on Wednesday and placed on Fort Wayne’s roster. Kometani entered Wednesday’s game in the fourth inning for an injured Duanel Jones and went 1 for 3 in the 8-1 victory.

Kometani went 1 for 4 on Thursday. He scored later in the first inning on a single by Matt Colantonio.

Shull lasted three innings, giving up the four runs on four hits. He walked four and struck out four.

Portillo walked five in his five innings and also hit a batter. But he was able to work out of jams throughout the game to lower his Midwest League-leading ERA to 1.65.