Fort Wayne TinCaps (6-7, 42-41) vs. South Bend Cubs (9-4, 50-32)
RHP Jake Nix (1-3, 3.88) vs. RHP Preston Morrison (8-3, 2.68)
Wednesday, July 6 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 84
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps beat the Cubs, 3-1. South Bend scored its lone run in the top of the first before Fort Wayne tied it in the second and went in front for good in the fourth.
TIDWELL’S TEAR: Kodie Tidwell had a 7-game hitting streak snapped on Tuesday, but he walked to reach base for an eighth game in a row. This is on the heels of his 31-game on-base streak — from May 13-June 25 — the longest in the MWL this season. In 41 games since May 13, Tidwell, who over the stretch has played 2B, 3B, SS, LF, RF, and DH-ed, has slashed .287/.397/.453 with 4 homers, a triple, 11 doubles, and 14 RBIs with 5 stolen bases. His .400 OBP is fifth highest in the MWL over this time.
PEÑA PRODUCES: OF Jhonatan Peña drove in all 3 TinCaps runs on Tuesday, as he launched a solo home run and doubled to score 2. The 22-year-old is hitting .250 in the second half now with 5 homers and 11 RBIs. (This is after he hit .215/1/18 before the break.)
BELEN BASHES: 3B Carlos Belen helped pace the Fort Wayne offense on Monday with 3 hits, including a double, and an RBI. The 20-year-old has been hot in the second half, hitting .366 with 6 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 8 RBIs. (This is after he hit .194 in the first half.) Of Belen’s 50 hits this year, 25 have gone for extra bases.
HOME COOKIN’: The TinCaps are 8-1 against the Cubs at Parkview Field this year, even though South Bend sports the league’s best overall record.
ALUMNI REPORT: 2013 TinCaps ace Zach Eflin earned his first MLB win last night for the Phillies against the Braves in Philadelphia. The now-22-year-old righty threw a complete game, allowing only 1 run on 6 hits and no walks. He struck out 6. In Fort Wayne, Eflin led the MWL in ERA (2.73)… 2009 TinCaps reliever Brad Brach was named an American League All-Star on Tuesday. The Orioles reliever has a 0.99 ERA this year in 37 appearances.
ON THIS DAY: In 1933, the first MLB All-Star Game was played at Comiskey Park, the former home of the White Sox. The game was intended to be a one-time only event during Chicago’s World Fair to lift morale during the Great Depression. The idea for the game came from Arch Ward, sports editor of the Chicago Tribune. The AL won, 4-2, as Babe Ruth hit a 2-run homer.
PARKVIEW FIELD PROMOTIONS:
– Tonight: Webkinz Wednesday
– Tomorrow: Pro Wrestling Night (“Hacksaw” Jim Duggan) / Thirsty Thursday*
*Fireworks
