Fort Wayne TinCaps (35-29) vs. West Michigan Whitecaps (36-25)
RHP Austin Smith (1-3, 3.74) vs. LHP Trent Szkutnik (2-0, 1.90)
Tuesday, June 14 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 65
LAST NIGHT: Fort Wayne fell, 8-3, to West Michigan. The TinCaps took a 2-0 lead in the first inning before the Whitecaps struck for 8 unanswered from the second through the sixth.
DOUBLES FOR DOUBLE-A: Austin Allen became the first TinCap this season to double 3 times in a game Monday. It was Allen’s third consecutive 3-hit performance, raising his batting average to .337 on the year — second highest in the MWL. Allen also had 3 straight 3-hit games from April 9-11. He has at least 1 hit in 6 games in a row.
THE GREAT GETTYS: Michael Gettys is riding an 8-game hitting streak and has recorded a hit in 11 of his last 12 games. The MWL All-Star is 20-for-47 in June (.426 average) with 2 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 5 RBIs. Maybe best of all, his strikeout rate is going down. In April, Gettys struck out in 34% of his at-bats. That number decreased to 25% in May, and he’s fanning in just 19% of his at-bats this month. Gettys’ .322 average on the year is 10th best in the MWL. He’s tied for the league lead in stolen bases with 23 and ranks second in games played (63 of Fort Wayne’s 65).
TIDWELL TURNS UP: Kodie Tidwell is on a 24-game on-base streak going back to May 13. It’s the longest active streak in the MWL and the fourth longest in the league this year. He’s hit safely in 22 of those games, including 9 straight. Tidwell has DH-ed, played second base, third, shortstop, and left field during the streak.
PITCHING PROWESS: The TinCaps have the 3rd lowest ERA in the MWL at 3.10. The Whitecaps have the lowest (2.94). Fort Wayne averages the fewest walks/game (2.5). West Michigan ranks second (2.6). The TinCaps’ 1.21 WHIP is second best, with the Whitecaps’ 1.23 third.
PLAYOFF PUSH: With 6 games remaining in the first half, the TinCaps are 3.5 games behind first-place South Bend, 3.0 games behind second-place Lake County for the wild card spot and 2.5 games behind third-place West Michigan.
PARKVIEW FIELD PROMOTIONS
Tuesday: Strike Out Stroke Night
Wednesday: Military Appreciation Night / Webkinz Wednesday*
Thursday: Thirsty Thursday™*
Friday: Star Wars Night*
Saturday: ZOOperstars!*
Sunday: Postgame Autographs presented by MetroPCS
*Fireworks
