Fort Wayne TinCaps (11-21) vs. Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (14-15)
LHP Jerry Keel (4.18) vs. RHP David Burkhalter (3.00)
Wednesday, May 10, 2017— Parkview Field — First Pitch 11:05 a.m. — Game 33
LAST NIGHT: The TinCaps lost to the Timber Rattlers, 5-2. Each side scored a run in the fourth (Fort Wayne’s came on a Brad Zunica RBI single), but Wisconsin added 2 in the fifth and 2 more in the sixth. A Fernando Tatis Jr. RBI triple in the ninth proved too-little-too-late.
HOFFMAN ON DECK: Padres great Trevor Hoffman will be at Parkview Field on Thursday. Hoffman, who has the 2nd most saves in MLB history (601), will sign autographs for fans before the 7:05 p.m. game. (Gates open at 6:05.) He’s currently a Senior Advisor to Baseball Operations for San Diego.
GOOD DAY: The TinCaps are 6-5 in day games this season.
STREAKING: Reinaldo Ilarraza is on a 13-game on-base streak.
ADVANCED OFFENSIVE NUMBERS: As of Tuesday, according to Fangraphs, 29% of the time Eguy Rosario has put the ball in play, he’s hit a line drive. That “LD%” is 6th highest in the MWL among qualifying hitters. Generally speaking, line drives are better for hitters than ground balls or fly balls… Jack Suwinski has seen a MWL-leading 695 pitches this season. That equates to an average of 5.22 pitches per plate appearance. (MLB leader: José Bautista, 4.56; MiLB leader: 2014 TinCap Nick Schulz, 5.35 with Double-A San Antonio)
LEAGUE LEADERS: Fernando Tatis Jr. is 2nd in the MWL in games played (31)… Jack Suwinski is tied for 3rd in games played (30) and is 5th in walks (20)… Brad Zunica is tied for 3rd in home runs (6), is 5th in slugging % (.567), 6th in OPS (.963), and tied for 6th in walks (19)… Eguy Rosario is tied for 5th in stolen bases (9) and 7th in doubles (8)… Tatis Jr. and Reinaldo Ilarraza are tied for 10th in stolen bases (7).
AS A TEAM: In the MWL, the TinCaps have drawn the 3rd most walks (127; 3.9/G) and have the 2nd most stolen bases (33).
BIG-LEAGUE FAMILIES: The TinCaps now have 3 players with MLB bloodlines. Fernando Tatis Jr.’s dad spent 11 years (1997-2003, ’06, ’08-10) in the big leagues, while Nate Easley’s dad, Damion, was a major leaguer for 17 seasons (1992-2008) and Diomar Lopez’s brother, Wilton, pitched in the show for 6 years (’09-14). Wilton Lopez also pitched for the Fort Wayne Wizards in ’07 (22 games, 3.30 ERA).
PADRES HERE: The following members of San Diego’s Player Development Staff are here… Assistant Director, Player Development Ben Sestanovich,Coordinator of Instruction Ryley Westman, and Pitching Coordinator Mark Prior.
ON THE OTHER SIDE: Wisconsin’s roster features 5 Top 30 Brewers prospects, per MLB.com… SS Gilbert Lara (No. 17), OF Monte Harrison (No. 22), C Mario Feliciano (No. 23), OF Demi Orimoloye (No. 24), and RHP Trey Supak (No. 29).