Fort Wayne TinCaps (18-13) vs. Great Lakes Loons (11-17)
Game 1: RHP J.C. Cosme (3-1, 3.91) vs. LHP Victor Gonzalez (1-2, 4.30)
Game 2: RHP Austin Smith (0-1, 3.72) vs. LHP Michael Boyle (1-2, 3.34)
Wednesday, May 11, 2016 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 11:05 a.m. — Games 32 and 33
ABOUT TUESDAY NIGHT: The TinCaps beat the Loons, 2-1, in the opener of what was scheduled to be a doubleheader. The back end, however, was rained out. Michael Gettys broke a 1-1 tie in the bottom of the sixth inning with an RBI single.
LET’S PLAY TWO: After Tuesday’s postponement, the TinCaps and Loons are scheduled for a doubleheader again. By the way, per the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), Ernie Banks was first attributed with this famous saying in July 1969. The Cubs were to play a game in 100-degree heat and Banks, looking to inspire his teammates, uttered the phrase. Sportswriter Jimmy Enright reported it and credited it to Banks.
WINNING STREAK: The TinCaps have won 3 consecutive games. Fort Wayne’s longest winning streak so far this season is 4 (April 13 @ GL, April 14-16 vs. South Bend)… With a win today, the TinCaps will also claim their fifth consecutive series.
WINNING THE CLOSE ONES: After losing 6 of their first 7 1-run games this season, the TinCaps are 5-2 in 1-run games since, including Tuesday’s victory and a 5-4 win at Kane County on Friday.
HOME IS WHERE THE WINS ARE: The TinCaps are 10-3 at Parkview Field so far, which matches the 2013 club for the best home record through 13 games in TinCaps history. (Fort Wayne began that year 13-3 at home, and went on to clinch the Eastern Division first-half wild card and eventually fell a game shy of reaching the Midwest League Championship Series.)
INDIVIDUAL LEAGUE LEADERS: TinCaps lead the MWL in…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.422) — 2nd in MiLB
· RBIs: Ty France (21*)
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (14*) — Tied for 10th in MiLB
· Innings Pitched: Walker Lockett (38.0)
* Tied for league lead
THE OTHER GUYS: At 11-17, Great Lakes has the 2nd worst record in the 16-team MWL. They’ve lost 8 consecutive road games and are 1-10 overall on the road. While the Loons’ 3.14 ERA ranks 5th in the league (2nd in the East), their team .193 batting average is the worst in the league and all of Minor League Baseball. 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, but he’s also struck out a league-high 41 times.
