Fort Wayne TinCaps (14-11, 46-47) @ Lake County Captains (9-15, 45-47)
RHP Dinelson Lamet (3-4, 3.49) vs. LHP Anderson Polanco (4-6, 4.24)
Tuesday, July 21, 2015 — Classic Park (Eastlake, OH) — First Pitch 7:00 p.m. — Game 94
ABOUT LAST GAME: The TinCaps lost to the Dragons, 1-0, at Fifth Third Field in Dayton Monday night. Thomas Dorminy threw five shutout innings before surrendering a run in the sixth. The Dragons loaded the bases with one out thanks to two walks and an infield single. Gavin LaValley then plated Luis Gonzalez with a groundout to third. Fort Wayne put two runners on in the seventh and had the tying run at third in the ninth, but couldn’t score. Kyle McGrath pitched two scoreless innings of relief for the TinCaps, while Tyler Mahle (7 IP), Ty Sterner (8th), and Conor Krauss (9th) teamed for the shutout. Both sides had only three hits in the pitchers’ duel.
BIG LEAGUER IN THE HOUSE: The Indians’ Nick Swisher is rehabbing with the Captains tonight. Swisher, 34, is on Cleveland’s disabled list because of left knee inflammation. As Lake County’s DH last night, Swish went 2-for-3 with a run scored. Over 12 years in the big leagues, Swisher is a .250 career hitter with 241 homers and 786 RBIs. This season, in 30 games, he’s hit .198 with 2 homers and 8 RBIs.
FAMILIAR FOE: The TinCaps just took two out of three from the Captains at Parkview Field last Wednesday-Friday. Fort Wayne won 4-1 in the opener and 8-3 in the finale, while in the middle game, Lake County erased a 3-0 ninth-inning deficit and won 9-3 in 10 innings. Although he only got a no-decision, Dinelson Lamet threw five shutout innings last Thursday and struck out seven. The TinCaps scored a run on four hits and three walks against Anderson Polanco, who struck out six.
BACK TO WHERE IT TURNED AROUND: The TinCaps were a season-worst 13-games below .500 (12-25) on the morning of May 21 at Lake County. Fort Wayne trailed 5-3 going into the ninth inning that day when Duanel Jones hit a pinch-hit two-run homer to tie the game. The TinCaps eventually prevailed 9-5 in 14 innings — their longest game of the year. Since, and including that day, Fort Wayne is 34-22.
TODAY IN BASEBALL HISTORY: In 1937, the St. Louis Browns fired and released manager Roger Hornsby, who was also a player on the team. The Browns were in last place, but Hornsby was also fired in part because he attempted to pay back a debt to the team’s owner with winnings from betting on a horse race… In 1959, the Red Sox became the last team to integrate when Elijah Green, an African American, pinch ran and played shortstop.
MWL EASTERN DIVISION SECOND HALF PLAYOFF PICTURE:
Place Team W-L GB GB Wild Card
1. West Michigan 16-8 — —
T2. FORT WAYNE 14-11 2.5 —
T2. Bowling Green 14-11 2.5 —
T4. South Bend 13-12 3.5 1.0
T4. Dayton 13-12 3.5 2.0
6 Lansing* 11-14 5.5 4.0
7. Lake County 9-15 7.0 4.5
8. Great Lakes** 9-16 7.5 5.0
* First Half Division Winner ** First Half Wild Card Winner
