Fort Wayne TinCaps (9-15) at Quad Cities River Bandits (12-10)
RHP Jesse Scholtens (3.04) vs. RHP Enoli Paredes
Tuesday, May 2, 2017— Modern Woodmen Park (Davenport, IA) — First Pitch 7:35 p.m. — Game 25
LAST GAME: Before a day off on Monday, the TinCaps beat the South Bend Cubs, 8-5, on Sunday afternoon to earn a split of their 4-game series. For the second time in as many days, Fort Wayne had a 6-run inning (in the fifth).
ROSTER MOVES: On Monday, the Padres placed outfielder Buddy Reed (San Diego’s No. 29 prospect — MLB.com) on the 7-day Disabled List (lower back spasms). Tyler Selesky was called up from Extended Spring Training. Selesky appeared in 35 games with the TinCaps late last season, playing first base, third, and left field.
INTERDIVISION PLAY: Tonight marks the first of 12 consecutive games for the TinCaps against the Western Division. They’ll play 12 more against the West in the second half. (See schedule on right.)
TATIS TURNING IT AROUND: Fernando Tatis Jr. is on a 13-game on-base streak. During the stretch, he’s slashing .304/.389/.457. (In the 18-year-old’s first 10 games, his line was .146/.222/.220.)
ROSARIO’S RISE: Eguy Rosario, who over the weekend was added to MLB.com’s ranking of the Top 30 Padres Prospects, has been on base in 10 of his last 11 games. Minor League Baseball’s youngest player has slashed .297/.435/.459. (In the 17-year-old’s first 11 games, his line was .186/.239/.256.) Rosario reached base 3 times Sunday with a double, a triple, and a walk.
ZUNICA’S POWER & PATIENCE: Brad Zunica has 10 hits this year—4 doubles, 4 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 .208, his on-base percentage is .387, as he’s drawn 14 walks in 15 starts. Zunica has drawn a walk in 22% of his plate appearances (2nd best in the MWL among guys with 60+ PAs). He’s reached base in 12 of his last 13.
POINT OF CLARIFICATION: These are the Quad Cities River Bandits. The Quad Cities consist of Davenport, IA; Bettendorf, IA; Moline, IL; and Rock Island, IL. That said, from 1961-2003, the team’s locale was referred to as Quad City. They have an ECHL hockey team here, too, the Quad City Mallards, who the Fort Wayne Komets beat (4-1) in the opening round of the ECHL Playoffs… While we’re at it, the Quad City DJ’s (“C’mon N’ Ride It (The Train), “Space Jam,” et al.) are not from here, but rather, Jacksonville.
LEAGUE LEADERS: Jack Suwinski is tied for 2nd in the MWL in walks drawn (17)… Brad Zunica is tied for 6th in walks (14) and for 9th in home runs (4)… Eguy Rosario is tied for 5th in doubles (7)… Fernando Tatis Jr. is tied for 6th in stolen bases (6)… Eguy Rosario and Reinaldo Ilarraza are tied for 8th in stolen bases (5).