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TinCaps Game Notes: July 20 @ Wisconsin (Game 96)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-16, 45-50) @ Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (12-13, 46-49)

RHP Anderson Espinoza (5-8, 4.38 in SAL) vs. RHP Jordan Yamamoto (4-5, 3.66)

Wednesday, July 20 — Fox Cities Stadium — First Pitch 8:05 p.m. — Game 96

MONDAY NIGHT: The TinCaps fell to the Cedar Rapids Kernels, 3-2, in 10 innings on Monday night at Parkview Field to close out a 6-game homestand. The Kernels scored the go-ahead run in the 10th on a TinCaps error. TinCaps starter Chris Paddack fanned 8 over 5 shutout innings. The righty acquired from Miami now has a 0.85 ERA with 71 strikeouts and 5 walks in 9 starts this season.

ANDERSON-MANIA: TinCaps RHP Anderson Espinoza will make his Padres organizational debut tonight after he was acquired from the Red Sox on Thursday for All-Star LHP Drew Pomeranz. Espinoza is now widely viewed as the top prospect in the San Diego system, and Baseball America ranks him as the No. 4 pitching prospect in baseball. Espinoza arrived in Fort Wayne on Friday night and threw a bullpen Sunday.

PACKED WITH PROSPECTS: In his midseason update released Tuesday, ESPN’s Keith Law said the Padres have the No. 2 farm system in baseball. The TinCaps boast 10 of San Diego’s top 30 prospects, per MLB.com (see bottom right).

KNOCKING ON THE DOOR: After a pair of extra-innings losses to Cedar Rapids over the weekend, the TinCaps have dropped six games in extras this season. Fort Wayne, which has been walked off on eight times this year, has played in 35 games decided by one run (15-20), the most in the Eastern Division and the second-most in the Midwest League.

PLAY OF THE WEEK NOMINEE: C Austin Allen’s window-smashing home run at West Michigan last Monday is 1 of 6 candidates for MiLB.com’s Play of the Week. Fans can vote for the homer that cracked the glass of Fifth Third Ballpark’s Pepsi Stadium Club in right-center field by voting here on MiLB.com. (Winner named Thursday.)

GIRON HEATS UP: SS Ruddy Giron hit his first home run of the season on Sunday, a two-run shot in the second inning. It was his first long ball since Aug. 6 last year. Giron has reached base in 12 consecutive games, raising his batting average 19 points and his on-base percentage 24 points over that time.

LEAGUE LEADER: 1B Brad Zunica is tied for second in the MWL in home runs with 12 — 6 of which have come over the first 22 games of the second half. He also leads Fort Wayne in RBIs with 49.

OVERTIME: The average time of game for the TinCaps over the last week-plus (7 games, Monday-Monday)? 3 hours, 17 minutes.

WINNING THE WEST: The TinCaps won both of their first-half road series against Western Division opponents (Clinton & Kane County).