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TinCaps Game Notes: April 28 vs. South Bend (Game 22)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (7-14) vs. South Bend Cubs (13-8)

RHP Austin Smith (6.23) vs. LHP Bryan Hudson (4.15)

Friday, April 28, 2017— Parkview Field — First Pitch 7:05 p.m. — Game 22

LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps fell to the Cubs, 5-1. Fort Wayne led 1-0 after an Eguy Rosario RBI double in the second. But South Bend scored 2 unearned runs in the seventh and added 3 more unearned runs in the 8th. TinCaps starter Jerry Keel went 7 innings and struck out 5. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Marcus Greene Jr. each had 2 hits.

DEFENSE: Although the TinCaps committed 2 untimely errors last night, their .979 fielding percentage is tied for the 2nd best in the MWL with West Michigan. (Only Peoria is better at .981.) Individually, Marcus Greene Jr. has thrown out 9 of 20 attempted base stealers. (Only Kane County’s Jose Herrera has thrown out more, 10.)

GREENE GETS GOING: Marcus Greene Jr. is on a 6-game hitting streak and 10-game on-base streak. His .306 batting average currently leads the team. His success has come after a tepid start, going 3-for-15 to begin the year. Since then, he’s 15-for-34 (.353) over the last 10 games. He has 4 doubles, a home run, and 10 RBIs.

ZUNICA’S POWER & PATIENCE: Brad Zunica has 8 hits this year—3 doubles, 3 home runs, and just 2 singles (1 of which was off the center-field fence and he was out at second base trying to make it a double). So while his AVG is only .211, his on-base percentage is .423, as he’s drawn 14 walks in 13 games. Zunica has drawn a walk in 26% of his plate appearances (2nd best in the MWL among guys with 50+ PAs).

BASEBALL ON HALLOWEEN: Tonight is only “Halfway” to Halloween at Parkview Field. But there have been 4 World Series games actually played on Oct. 31: 2001 (Diamondbacks-Yankees), 2009 (Phillies-Yankees), 2010 (Giants-Rangers), and 2016 (Royals-Mets).

DRAFT MEMORIES: With the NFL Draft going on, note that 19 TinCaps were drafted (while 6 signed as international free agents). Of those, 13 were selected out of college and 6 out of high school.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Jack Suwinski is tied for 2nd in the MWL in walks drawn (15)… Brad Zunica is tied for 7th in walks (12)… Eguy Rosario is tied for 6th in doubles (6)… Fernando Tatis Jr. is 6th in stolen bases (6)… Eguy Rosario also is tied for 7th in stolen bases (5)… Logan Allen has the 4th best SO/9IP ratio (12.5) and the 5th best batting average against (.159) among pitchers.

ON THE OTHER SIDE: South Bend has the following Top 30 Cubs prospects (per MLB.com)… RHP Dylan Cease (No. 3)… OF D.J. Wilson (No. 9)… LHP Jose Paulino (No. 14)… SS Isaac Paredes (No. 18)… LHP Bryan Hudson (No. 24)… Baseball America ranks Chicago’s farm system as 16th most talented in baseball.