Fort Wayne TinCaps (15-12) @ Kane County Cougars (15-11)
LHP Logan Allen (2-0, 1.80) vs. LHP Cody Reed (1-1, 0.82)
Thursday, May 5, 2016 — Fifth Third Bank Ballpark — First Pitch 7:30 p.m. — Game 28
ABOUT YESTERDAY AFTERNOON: Fort Wayne was unable to complete a sweep at Clinton, falling, 5-4. The TinCaps led 3-0 and 4-3, but didn’t score after the second inning. The LumberKings put up 3 in the first and 2 in the fourth that proved to be the difference. Michael Gettys headlined the offense for Fort Wayne with an RBI double and an RBI single.
ROSTER MOVES: Today the Padres transferred right-handed pitcher Elliot Ashbeck to the Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm and catcher A.J. Kennedy to the Double-A San Antonio Missions. In turn, the TinCaps now have righty reliever Trey Wingenter and catcher Kyle Overstreet from Extended Spring Training.
CLOSE, BUT NO CIGAR: Of Fort Wayne’s 12 losses, 8 have come by a single run. Only 2 have been by more than 3 runs.
HOMECOMING: The TinCaps have 3 players who spent at least part of their childhoods in Illinois. Reliever Will Headean was born in West Lafayette, Ind., but moved to Morton, Ill. (about 2 hours and 20 minutes southwest of here), as a kid. Headean attended Morton High School and then Illinois State in Normal (about 2 hours away). First baseman Brad Zunica was born in Harvey, Ill. (about 1 hour southeast). Although he moved to Florida when he was 8, he still has relatives in the area. Reliever Phil Maton, who’s on the disabled list with an oblique injury, was born in Paducah, Ky., but moved to Chatham, Ill. (about 3 hours southwest) and went to Glenwood High School in Chatham.
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: TinCaps lead the MWL in…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.451) — 1st in MiLB
· On-Base Percentage: Austin Allen (.540) — 1st in MiLB
· On-Base Plus Slugging: Austin Allen (1.118) — 1st in MiLB
· Slugging Percentage: Austin Allen (.577)
· RBIs: Ty France (20)
· Walks: Ty France (20 – Tied) — Tied for 6th in MiLB
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (13) — Tied for 7th in MiLB
CINCO DE MAYO: Today commemorates the Mexican Army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. The TinCaps have 1 native of Mexico on the team, reliever Gerardo Reyes, who’s from Ciudad Victoria in the state of Tamaulipas (in Northeastern Mexico, about 200 miles south of Texas).
BACK AT PARKVIEW FIELD: It’s day 6 of 6 in the Parkview Sports Medicine High School Baseball Series. At 4:30, Eastside vs. Garrett, and at 7, Canterbury vs. Blackhawk Christian.