Fort Wayne TinCaps (19-29) vs. West Michigan Whitecaps (25-24)
Game 1: RHP Michael Kelly (0-0, 19.29) vs. RHP Jeff Thompson (2-4, 4.46)
Game 2: LHP Thomas Dorminy (4-3, 4.82) vs. RHP Spencer Turnbull (3-1, 3.40)
Sunday, May 31, 2015 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 1:05 p.m. — Games 49 and 50
ABOUT LAST NIGHT: For the first time since May 31, 2012, a TinCaps game at Parkview Field was postponed. After a run of 216 consecutive games without a postponement, rain prohibited Fort Wayne and West Michigan from taking the field on Saturday night.
ABOUT FRIDAY NIGHT: Franmil Reyes bombed the first pitch he saw from reliever Gage Smith over the left-field wall in the bottom of the 12th, leading Fort Wayne to a 5-4 walkoff win over West Michigan. It was Reyes’ third home run of the year; he finished 3-for-6 with a double as well. The TinCaps compiled a season-high seven extra-base hits and six players recorded multi-hit games.
CLUTCH PERFORMERS: Friday night was the fourth walk-off win of the season. In addition to Reyes’ clutch-ness, Felipe Blanco has delivered two game-winning hits and Edwin Moreno has one as well. Fort Wayne is 4-2 in extra innings this year.
PITCHING PROWESS: Since returning to Parkview Field on May 26th, Fort Wayne’s pitching staff has been nearly lights out. Over the last six games, the entire staff has a sizzling 1.89 ERA. Pitchers have recorded 38 strikeouts compared to just 17 walks in 47 2/3 total innings. That’s a ratio of better than 2:1. In the previous 15 games before the homestand started on Tuesday, Fort Wayne’s team ERA was 5.51 during that span.
EXTRA, EXTRA: The TinCaps lead the MWL in extra-base hits with 143. Fort Wayne has 97 doubles (2nd in the league), 18 triples (tied 2nd), and 28 home runs (tied 5th). Fort Wayne hit 5 doubles, 1 triple, and 1 home run on Friday.
THE OTHER GUYS: West Michigan’s roster features the following Top 30 Detroit Tigers prospects according to MLB.com: No. 2 Derek Hill (OF), No. 6 Spencer Turnbull (RHP), No. 11 Joe Jimenez (RHP), No. 21 Joey Pankake (INF), No. 22 Shane Zeile (C), No. 25 Zach Shepherd (INF), No. 30 Michael Gerber (OF).
