Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-11, 45-45) vs. Quad Cities River Bandits (10-10, 41-48)
LHP Thomas Dorminy (2-2, 3.18) vs. LHP Matt Bower (2-0, 2.78)
Thursday, July 14 — Parkview Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 91
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps began their 6-game homestand with a 6-0 win over Quad Cities. Fort Wayne struck for 5 runs in the sixth and capped the night with a Brad Zunica homer in the eighth. Starter Chris Paddack went the first 5 followed by Corey Kimber (3 IP) and Elvin Liriano for the team’s seventh shutout win of the year.
MOORE OF THE SAME: OF Tyler Moore is on a career-long 8-game hitting streak that started on the Fourth of July. Over these 8 games, he’s 12-for-28 (.429) with 2 doubles and an RBI. Moore’s success has come after an 0-for-12 slump prior had dropped his average on the season below .200.
VAN GANSEN GETS GOGH-ING: 2B Peter Van Gansen had seen his batting average drop down to .215 (lowest since Opening Day) after a third consecutive hitless game on Sunday. Manager Anthony Contreras moved him from the top third of the order to the 9-spot on Monday and last night, and Van Gansen responded by going 6-for-9. He’s back to hitting second tonight.
ALL-EN THE WAY UP: C Austin Allen saw his batting average fall below .300 for the first time all season over the weekend. But now he’s 6-for-his-last-11 with 2 homers, raising his average back to .306.
BIG BRAD: 1B Brad Zunica hit his 11th homer of the season last night, putting him into a tie for second most in the Midwest League. Zunica, though, actually has the best HR/AB ratio in the league, homering once every 23.09 times up.
BELEN BASHES: 3B Carlos Belen has 55 hits on the season. 29 of them (53%) have gone for extra-bases, including an RBI double last night. Belen hit .194 in the first half but is batting .282 since the break.
GIRON HEATS UP: SS Ruddy Giron starts today with his batting average at .200 — the highest it’s been since May 1. He’s on an 8-game hitting streak, matching the longest of his career. (Last year he had such streaks from May 18-25, when he debuted in the MWL, and again July 26-Aug. 4.)
STERLING STARTS: Over the last 6 games, TinCaps starters have posted a 2.10 ERA (7 ER in 30 IP) with 25 strikeouts and 1 walk.
FIGHTING IRISH FIRST PITCH: Notre Dame basketball star V.J. Beachem, a Fort Wayne native and New Haven High School alum, will throw out a first pitch prior to tonight’s game. Beachem, a 6-8 rising senior, was named ND’s Most Improved Player last year after averaging 17.5 points per game in the NCAA Tournament. Beachem joins a growing list of notable first pitches this season that includes: Jaylon Smith (Cowboys), Pat McAfee (Colts), Clayton Geathers (Colts), and David Parry (Colts).
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS:
Thursday: Thirsty ThursdayTM, pres. by Rudy’s*
Friday: The Tonight Show Spotlight*
Saturday: ZOOperstars!*
Sunday: Postgame Autographs, pres. by MetroPCS
Monday: Jake the Diamond Dog, US Foods Family Feast Night*
* = Fireworks
