Fort Wayne TinCaps (16-22 – 6th, 52-56) vs. South Bend Cubs (25-13 – 1st, 66-41)
RHP Jake Nix (2-4, 4.28) vs. LHP Ryan Kellogg (4-7, 3.46)
Wednesday, August 3 — Four Winds Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 109
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps beat the Lansing Lugnuts, 6-3, at Parkview Field. Fort Wayne trailed 2-1 in the fourth when Nick Vilter launched a 2-run homer that made it 3-2. From there, Austin Allen added 3 RBIs. On the mound, 3 TinCaps pitchers struck out 13.
SUCCESSFUL HOMESTAND: The TinCaps went 6-1 on their weeklong homestand, sweeping West Michigan in a 3-game set and taking 3 of 4 from Lansing. In the process, Fort Wayne made up 4 games on Lansing in the Eastern Division wild card race. The TinCaps are currently 3 games back of the Lugnuts.
WHAT IF: The TinCaps have played, and lost, more 1-run games than anyone else in the Midwest League (19-23), which includes 3 Ls by a run against South Bend. Fort Wayne is also an MWL co-leader in extra-inning losses (7).
ROSTER MOVES — WHO’S ON TODAY:
– OF Rod Boykin (activated from Disabled List — wrist)
– LHP José Castillo (from Short Season-A Tri-City)
– RHP Corey Kimber (from Short Season-A Tri-City)
ROSTER MOVES — WHO’S OFF TODAY:
– RHP Broxton Lorenzini (to Short Season-A Tri-City)
– RHP Will Stillman (to Short Season-A Tri-City)
– UTIL Nick Vilter (to Double-A San Antonio)
– INF/OF Kodie Tidwell (AZL rehab assignment — wrist/back)
I GOT A REALLY BIG TEAM: The Padres have now used 54 different players with the TinCaps this season (22 position players, 32 pitchers). In comparison, South Bend has had 46 (23 of each).
ALLEN’S HITTING STREAK: After a pair of singles last night, Austin Allen is on a career-long 17-game hitting streak. This is the longest active hitting streak in the Midwest League and the fourth longest in the league this year. (Longest: Francisco Mejia, LC, 24 games.) Over the stretch, Allen is 25-for-65 (.385) with 2 home runs and 12 RBIs.
RIDING RUDDY: Over the last month, Ruddy Giron has looked like the guy who Baseball America ranked as the No. 3 prospect in the MWL last year. Since July 3, Giron is slashing .340/.402/.454 with 8 doubles, a homer, and 8 RBIs. The shortstop had 3 hits last night, including 2 doubles, to extend his own hitting streak to 7 games. He’s reached base in 23 of his last 25 games.
BIG CROWDS AT PARKVIEW FIELD: The TinCaps have averaged 5,956 fans per home game this year — good for the second highest attendance among all Single-A teams, behind only Dayton. Fort Wayne’s attendance is also higher than 27 of 30 Double-A clubs and 13 of 30 Triple-A organizations.
