Fort Wayne TinCaps (23-21) @ Lansing Lugnuts (22-20)
RHP Enyel De Los Santos (2-1, 2.70) vs. LHP Angel Perdomo (2-1, 1.72)
Tuesday, May 24 — Cooley Law School Stadium — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 45
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps beat the West Michigan Whitecaps, 3-0, as Logan Allen (6 innings), Gerardo Reyes (2 innings), and Trey Wingenter (1 inning) faced the minimum of 27 batters. West Michigan managed only 2 hits, both of which were followed by double-play groundouts. Carlos Belen and Michael Gettys each brought in a run with respective singles in the second. Ty France provided an RBI double in the sixth.
STAFF CHANGES: The Padres have named TinCaps hitting coach Lance Burkhart the new skipper of the Lake Elsinore Storm after Francisco Morales resigned from his post with the High-A affiliate. As a result, Vinny Lopez has shifted from the role of TinCaps Defensive Coach to Hitting Coach. Raul Padron has been added to the staff the team’s Defensive Coach. (Also, last week Athletic Trainer Mitch Mattoon left the Padres to begin working at a high school close to his home in California. Justin Hostert, who was originally assigned to serve as Athletic Trainer for the Short-Season A Tri-City Dust Devils, where he worked last season, is now on the TinCaps’ staff.)
BELEN BEASTS: TinCaps 3B Carlos Belen is in the midst of a season-long 8-game hitting streak. Over that stretch, he’s hitting . 400 (11-for-29) with 7 runs scored and 5 driven in. The 20-year old from the Dominican Republic has an extra-base hit in 6 of those 8 games (3 doubles, 2 triples and 1 home run).
GETTYS STAYS HOT: TinCaps CF Michael Gettys is riding a 7-game hitting streak. On the homestand, Gettys went 10-for-24, with 2 triples and 1 double, to go along with 4 RBIs, 3 runs, and 2 stolen bases. For May, Gettys is slashing .365 / .420 / .514.
PITCHING ON POINT: Fort Wayne’s staff ERA of 2.96 is the lowest in the Eastern Division and tied with Cedar Rapids for the second lowest in the entire league. (Kane County leads the way at 2.82.) Over their last 8 contests, the TinCaps have allowed only 17 runs (2.1 runs per game). Of those, just 14 have been earned.
STARTERS’ STREAK: A TinCaps starting pitcher hasn’t allowed a run since the second on Saturday against West Michigan — 15 2/3 innings ago.
AMONG THE BEST: TinCaps are among the Midwest League leaders in the following categories…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.330) — 3rd
· On-Base Percentage: Austin Allen (.414) — 5th
· Games: Michael Gettys (43) — 1st
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (17) — 2nd
· Fewest Baserunners/9 IP: Enyel De Los Santos (6.63) — 4th
