Fort Wayne TinCaps (22-21) vs. West Michigan Whitecaps (22-18)
LHP Logan Allen (2-2, 2.33) vs. RHP Sandy Baez (1-4, 3.64)
Monday, May 23 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 44
YESTERDAY AFTERNOON: Fort Wayne lost to West Michigan, 2-1. Carlos Belen provided an RBI single in the second to put the TinCaps in front, and the lead held until the seventh when the Whitecaps won it. The visitors then broke the tie in the eighth.
BIG CROWDS: Sunday’s crowd of 7,303 was good for the third consecutive sellout at Parkview Field and the fifth of 2016. Through 19 home openings this season, the TinCaps have averaged 5,366 fans per game. Out of the 120 Minor League teams currently in action (40 short-season clubs won’t start until June), Fort Wayne ranks 21st in average attendance. The TinCaps have had the second highest average attendance among Single-A teams behind only Dayton. Fort Wayne is outdrawing 26 of 30 Double-A teams and 14 of 30 Triple-A franchises. (Last year Parkview Field set a record by averaging 5,971 fans per game for the year.)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Tonight’s starting pitcher, Logan Allen, is 19 today. Tomorrow, TinCaps pitcher J.C. Cosme will turn 20.
BELEN’S BIG WEEK: TinCaps 3B Carlos Belen is in the midst of a season-long 7-game hitting streak. Over that stretch, he’s hitting . 400(10-for-25) with 7 runs scored and 4 driven in. The 20-year old from the Dominican Republic has an extra-base hit in 6 of those 7 games (3 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run).
GETTYS STAYS HOT: TinCaps CF Michael Gettys is riding a 6-game hitting streak. On this homestand, Gettys is 8-for-20, with 2 triples and 1 double, to go along with 3 RBIs and 2 runs scored. For May, Gettys is slashing .357 / .416 / .514.
PITCHING ON POINT: Fort Wayne’s staff ERA of 3.04 is tied with West Michigan and Great Lakes for the best in the Eastern Division. Over in the West, only Kane County (2.87) and Cedar Rapids (2.93) have lower numbers. Over the last 7 games, the TinCaps have allowed only 17 runs (2.43 per game).
AMONG THE BEST: TinCaps are among the Midwest League leaders in the following categories…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.342) — 2nd
· On-Base Percentage: Austin Allen (.426) — 2nd
· Games: Michael Gettys (42) — 1st
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (17) — 2nd
· Runs: Michael Gettys (25) — T-6th
ON DECK: Fort Wayne’s 7-game homestand ends tonight. Starting Tuesday, the TinCaps will spend the next week on the road with 3 games at Lansing followed by a 4-game series at Lake County.
