Fort Wayne TinCaps (17-13) vs. Great Lakes Loons (11-16)
Game 1: RHP Walker Lockett (1-2, 3.62) vs. RHP Dennis Santana (0-2, 2.53)
Game 2: RHP J.C. Cosme (3-1, 3.91) vs. LHP Victor Gonzalez (1-2, 4.30)
Tuesday, May 10, 2016 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 6:05 p.m. — Games 31 and 32
RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY: Monday night’s game between the TinCaps and Loons was rained out. Parkview Field has now had 2 rainouts over the last 10 days. The TinCaps and Burlington Bees were washed out on April 30, and played a doubleheader that was split on May 1.
ROSTER MOVE: Today the Padres transferred right-handed starter Brett Kennedy from Fort Wayne to the Advanced-A Lake Elsinore Storm. Kennedy was 2-1 with a 2.54 ERA in 6 starts. His 38 strikeouts in 28.1 IP were good for a 12.07 SO/9IP ratio — 2nd best in the MWL. Meanwhile, righty reliever Phil Maton has been activated off the Disabled List. Maton, who’s ranked as the Padres’ No. 21 prospect, suffered an oblique injury on Opening Night (April 7) at Lake County.
CALL IT A COMEBACK: The TinCaps have come from behind in 8 of their 17 wins this season, including each of the last 2 games at Kane County. Over its last 12 contests, Fort Wayne has managed to win 3 times when trailing after 8 innings.
HOW THE WEST WAS WON: The TinCaps finished interdivision play in the first half with an 8-4 record against the Western Division. Fort Wayne took 2 out of 3 in 4 consecutive series against Peoria, Burlington, Clinton, and Kane County.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: After a 4-2 rip to Clinton and Kane County, the TinCaps are now 8-10 on the road this season. At Parkview Field, Fort Wayne is 9-3, which matches the 2013 club for the best home record through 12 games in TinCaps history. The TinCaps are 4-0 in series openers at home so far.
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: TinCaps lead the MWL in…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.425) — 2nd in MiLB
· RBIs: Ty France (21*)
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (14*) — Tied for 9th in MiLB
* Tied for league lead
THE OTHER GUYS: At 11-16, Great Lakes enters with the 2nd worst record in the 16-team MWL. Although the Loons just won 4 of 6 at home, they’ve lost 7 consecutive road games and are 1-9 overall on the road. While the Loons’ 3.18 ERA ranks 7th in the league (2nd in the Eastern Division), their team .192 batting average is the worst in the league. They’re striking out a league-high 11 times per game. In terms of prospects ranked by MLB.com, Great Lakes has the 2 youngest players in the MWL in 2B Omar Estevez (No. 17) and SS Brendon Davis (No. 21), who are both 18. Among MWL leaders, 1B Matt Jones has 4 HR, tied for 2nd most in the circuit. He has also struck out a league-high 40 times.
