Fort Wayne TinCaps (25-23) @ Lake County Captains (27-21)
LHP Logan Allen (3-2, 1.91) vs. RHP Casey Shane (4-1, 3.57)
Saturday, May 28 — Classic Park (Eastlake, Ohio) — First Pitch 6:30 p.m. — Game 49
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps won their second in a row on the road, topping the Captains, 3-2, in the opener of this 4-game set.
TIDWELL’S TEAR: Kodie Tidwell is on a season-long 7-game hitting streak. He’s 10-for-30 (.333 average) over the stretch with 4 doubles, 3 runs, 3 stolen bases, and an RBI. It’s sprung his batting average 39 points and doubled his double total from his first 28 games this year. During the streak, Tidwell has played second base, shortstop, left field, and DH-ed.
GETTYS STAYS HOT: Center fielder Michael Gettys is riding a season-long 11-game on-base streak. Over the last 11 games, Gettys is 14-for-36 (.389 average) with 5 runs and 6 RBIs. He’s hit 1 homer, 3 triples, and 1 double (.667 slugging), while swiping 5 bases, drawing 5 walks, and being hit by 3 pitches (.500 on-base).
HOW ALLEN GOT HIS GROOVE BACK: Catcher Austin Allen, who was the MWL Player of the Month for April, was mired in an 0-for-21 slump from May 17 into Thursday. Allen then had 3 consecutive hits to finish Thursday’s game in Lansing and 3 consecutive hits to begin Friday night’s game. He had a trio of 3-hit games—and a 4-hit game in the first week of the season, but hadn’t had a game like that since.
BRINGING PEÑA TO OPPONENTS: Through his first 27 games of the season, outfielder Jhonatan Peña had 3 RBIs. Over the last 3 days? He’s plated 7. Peña plated a pair in the ninth at Lansing on Wednesday. He followed that up with a 3-RBI game Thursday, which included a go-ahead 2-run homer in the ninth. Peña came through again Friday with his third consecutive 2-hit game. He broke a 1-1 tie in the sixth with a 2-run double that proved to be the game-winner. His batting average has jumped 39 points since Wednesday.
PITCHING ON POINT: The TinCaps’ 2.98 ERA is the third lowest in the Midwest League, trailing only Kane County (2.90) and West Michigan (2.97). Over the last 13 games, Fort Wayne’s 5 starters have allowed a total of 13 earned runs in 69 innings (1.70 ERA). This excludes Angel Mejia’s spot start on May 14.
AMONG THE BEST: TinCaps position players are among the Midwest League leaders in the following categories…
· Batting Average: Austin Allen (.349) — T-1st
· On-Base Percentage: Austin Allen (.428) — 3rd
· Games: Michael Gettys (47) — 1st
· Hit By Pitch: Michael Gettys (9) — 1st
· Outfield Assists: Michael Gettys (10) — 1st
· Stolen Bases: Michael Gettys (20) — 2nd
· Runs Scored: Michael Gettys (28) — T-5th