TinCaps Game Notes: June 9 at Dayton (Game 61)
June 9, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release
Fort Wayne TinCaps (28-32, 5th East) @ Dayton Dragons (23-39, 7th East)
RHP EfraÃn Contreras vs. RHP Ricky Salinas
Sunday, June 9 - Fifth Third Field (Dayton, Ohio) - First Pitch 2:08 PM (Game 61 / 138)
LISTEN: John Nolan & Evan Stockton (ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com | TuneIn)
WATCH: MiLB.TV
SATURDAY NIGHT: The TinCaps lost the Dragons, 8-4. Agustin Ruiz hit a game-tying 2-run homer in the fourth inning and Justin Lopez provided a then-go-ahead 2-run single in fifth, but Dayton scored 6 in the home fifth and that was the difference. The 'Caps loaded the bases in the ninth only to fall. Fort Wayne out-hit Dayton, 9-7, but went 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position compared to the Dragons going 4-for-11 in those spots.
X IS A FACTOR: Infielder Xavier Edwards leads the MWL in batting average (.344), ranks 5th in OBP (.399), and 6th in stolen bases (14). He has the lowest swinging strike % in the league, as he's swung and missed at only 3% of the pitches he's seen. His K% of 10% is the 4th lowest in the league. With 21 walks to 25 strikeouts, Edwards' 0.84 BB/K ratio is the 8th best in the MWL. Xavier has made a living hitting the ball the opposite way (46% of the time he's put the ball in play, highest rate in the MWL) and swinging early in the count; he's posted a BA of .543 this season on the first pitch of an at bat, and 25 of his league-leading 73 hits (34%) have come while swinging in an 0-0 count.
MAKING HIS MARK: After missing 2 weeks with a sprained left thumb, infielder Tucupita Marcano returned from the Injured List on Saturday. Marcano's .295 batting average ranks 14th in the MWL. Noted for his ability to make contact, Marcano has swung and missed at only 5% of the pitches he's seen this season-4th lowest SwStr% in the league-and struck out in just 10% of his plate appearances-5th lowest K% in the circuit.
HOT CURRY: Michael Curry started his season 2-for-22 (.091), but since May 26, in 13 games, Curry has slashed .359/.435/.513 (.948 OPS) with 6 doubles and 7 RBIs. He's drawn 6 walks compared to 8 strikeouts.
HOMECOMING: Infielder Lee Solomon is from Columbus, about an hour and 10 minutes to the east of Dayton.
TURNAROUND: Catcher Juan Fernandez began the season 0-for-18, but is 24-for-68 (.352) since.
MELEAN MEMORY: Infielder Kelvin Melean hit 2 home runs and drove in a career-high 5 RBIs here at Fifth Third Field on July 25 last year in a 12-0 win. Melean hit a 2-run homer as well as a 3-run shot.
WALK & RUN: Outfielder Jawuan Harris has walked in 17% of his plate appearances this season, the 3rd highest BB% in the MWL. Harris is also 5th in the league in stolen bases (15).
WALKING WOUNDED: The TinCaps have 3 regulars on the Injured List in outfielders Grant Little and Dwanya Williams-Sutton, and infielder Luis Almanzar. Previously this year infielders Justin Lopez and Tucupita Marcano, plus pitcher Ryan Weathers have also spent time on the IL.
IN CONTROL: TinCaps pitchers have the best ratio of strikeouts to walks in the MWL this season (2.95). 'Caps pitchers have also walked the fewest batters in the MWL, averaging only 3.1 per 9 innings.
ALL-STARS: The Midwest League announced the rosters for June 18's All-Star Game on Wednesday. The TinCaps will be represented by infielder Xavier Edwards, who will start at second base, plus starting pitcher Ryan Weathers and reliever Henry Henry.
Midwest League Stories from June 9, 2019
- Cougars Drop 5th Straight, Bandits Clinch - Kane County Cougars
- Wielansky's Big Hit Helps Bandits Top Cougars 5-3 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Whitecaps Swept in Doubleheader - West Michigan Whitecaps
- LumberKings Drop Both Games of Twin Billing - Clinton LumberKings
- Hot Rods Allow Just Three Runs in Doubleheader Sweep - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Chiefs Split Sunday DH - Peoria Chiefs
- Cedar Rapids, Peoria Split Doubleheader - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Rain Or Shine, Loons Still Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Battle Back from 4-Run Deficit, Earn Walk-Off Win for 7th Straight Victory - Dayton Dragons
- Lugs' 3-Game Winning Streak Halted - Lansing Lugnuts
- Fort Wayne Falters at Dayton - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Beloit Rallies Past Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Snappers edge Timber Rattlers 2-1 to take series in Appleton - Beloit Sky Carp
- Captains Capture Key Victory over Lugnuts - Lake County Captains
- Kernels and Twins announce a series of roster moves before today's DH with Peoria - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Clinton Takes Second Game of Series, 9-5 - Burlington Bees
- TinCaps Game Notes: June 9 at Dayton (Game 61) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Notes for Sunday - Dayton Dragons
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