MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

TinCaps Game Notes: June 29 vs. Great Lakes (Game 77)

Published on June 29, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-5, 36-40) vs. Great Lakes Loons (3-5, 46-29)

LHP Omar Cruz vs. RHP Jose Martinez

Saturday, June 29 - Parkview Field (Fort Wayne, Ind.) - First Pitch 7:05 PM (Game 77 / 138)

WATCH: John Nolan & Brett Rump (Comcast Network 81 & MiLB.TV)

LISTEN: Mike Maahs & Evan Stockton (ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com | TuneIn)

FRIDAY NIGHT: The TinCaps fell to the Cubs, 8-1, on Office Night at Parkview Field, as the team wore Dwight Schrute inspired jerseys in honor of the NBC show. Lee Solomon smacked his first home run at Parkview Field this season, hitting a 411-foot dinger onto the top of the Ivy Tech Lawn Seats in left-center field.

SOAK UP THE SUN: After a brutal beginning to the season weather-wise, Mother Nature has finally given the TinCaps a break. The average first-pitch temperature over the last five games has been 86 degrees, including 92-degree temperatures with sunny skies over the last two nights. Tonight's game promises similar conditions, with an expected temperature near 90 degrees with more sun at first pitch. The 'Caps had 10 games during the first half of the season affected by rain, sleet, and snow.

ROSTER MOVES: On Friday the Padres reinstated outfielder Jawuan Harris from Fort Wayne's Injured List. Harris made his return the very same night, smacking a double in his first at-bat off the IL. Harris had last played on June 14 and was out since with a head injury. Infielder Kelvin Melean was transferred down to the Short-Season Tri-City Dust Devils in Pasco, WA. Starting pitcher Efraín Contreras was placed on the Temporary Inactive List (death in family), while lefty Omar Cruz was called up from T-C.

HI, MY NAME IS: Omar Cruz is slated to make his Fort Wayne debut tonight after making 2 prior starts this season with Short-Season Tri-City. The 20-year-old combined to go 7.0 innings in his two starts with the Dust Devils, posting a 2.57 ERA (2 earned runs) with 14 strikeouts and 6 walks. Cruz made 11 appearances (10 starts) between the AZL and Tri-City last season, recording a 1.91 ERA in 42.1 IP with 59 strikeouts.

X IS A FACTOR: Infielder Xavier Edwards was the MWL Eastern Division's leadoff batter and starting second baseman in the All-Star Game and this explains why... He leads the league in batting average (.330), is tied for 3rd in stolen bases (18), and is tied for 6th in OBP (.387). Edwards also is tied for the 2nd lowest swinging strike % (4.5%), the 5th lowest K% (11%), and the 8th best BB/K (0.79)... 48% of the balls he's put into play have been hit the opposite way, the highest rate in the league... 29 of his league-high 90 hits have come on the first pitch of an AB as he's hit .492 in 0-0 counts.

MAKING HIS MARK: Infielder Tucupita Marcano has the 3rd lowest K% in the MWL (10%) and the 5th lowest swinging strike % (5%).

MEXICAN POWER: Outfielder Agustin Ruiz has launched 4 homers over his last 16 games after not homering in his first 51 games of the season. Over his last 12 games, since June 12, Ruiz has slashed .377/.382/.623 (1.055 OPS). In this span, his BA is 3rd in the MWL, while his OPS ranks 6th... His 42 RBIs on the year tie him for 8th in the MWL... 22.4% of the balls he's put in play have been line drives, tying him for the 6th highest LD% in the league.

HUNTING HITS: In 23 games since May 26, catcher Blake Hunt has slashed .325/.363/.458 (.821 OPS) with 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 13 RBIs. He ranks 2nd in the MWL in doubles during this time.

HOME COOKING: In 23 games at home, outfielder Dwanya Williams-Sutton has slashed .263/.434/.355 (.789 OPS). That's compared to .195/.308/.312 (.620 OPS) in 22 road games. "DWS" leads the team in OBP during home games.

HOT CURRY: In 26 games since May 26, Michael Curry has slashed

.293/.398/.476 (.874 OPS). That's the 8th highest OPS in the MWL in that time.

WALK & RUN: Outfielder Jawuan Harris ranks 2nd in the MWL in BB% (17%). He also ranks 9th in stolen bases (16).

IN CONTROL: TinCaps pitchers have the best ratio of strikeouts to walks in the MWL this season (3.08). 'Caps pitchers have also walked the fewest batters in the MWL, averaging only 3.0 per 9 innings.

Check out the Fort Wayne TinCaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2019


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