TinCaps Game Notes: May 24 at Great Lakes (Game 45)
May 24, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release
Fort Wayne TinCaps (21-23, 5th East) @ Great Lakes Loons (28-16, 1st East)
RHP Sam Keating vs. RHP Andre Jackson
Friday, May 24 - Dow Diamond (Midland, Mich.) - First Pitch 7:05 PM (Game 45 / 138)
LISTEN: John Nolan & Evan Stockton (ESPN Radio 1380 & 100.9 FM | TinCapsRadio.com | TuneIn)
WATCH: MiLB.TV
THURSDAY NIGHT: The TinCaps walked off against the South Bend Cubs, 3-2, to finish off a 4-game sweep and a 6-1 homestand. Tucupita Marcano delivered a single to right field that scored Luis Almanzar from second base.
WHAT'S AT STAKE: The TinCaps have a chance to win 5 games in a row for the first time this season.
IN CONTROL: TinCaps pitchers have the best ratio of strikeouts to walks in the Midwest League this season. Fort Wayne pitchers are averaging 3.01 strikeouts for every walk. 'Caps pitchers have walked the fewest batters in the MWL (123 BB in 373.1 IP, just 3 per innings). TinCaps starters in particular have had pinpoint accuracy lately-only 4 walks in the last 9 starts combined.
STARTING STRONG: Fort Wayne's starters were almost unhittable against South Bend. In 4 games, Ryan Weathers, EfraÃn Contreras, Gabe Mosser, and Joey Cantillo combined to go 19.2 innings of nearly scoreless ball. The 4-some surrendered just 2 runs on 14 hits while fanning 20 and walking 2.
SHUTTING THE DOOR: While the TinCaps starters have garnered plenty of praise for their work during the last 4 games, the bullpen work has also been stellar. 8 different pitchers have combined to toss 16.1 innings of 2-run ball with 10 strikeouts, 1 walk, and 10 hits allowed.
X FACTOR: Infielder Xavier Edwards is tied for 1st in the MWL in Hits (51), ranks 2nd in Batting Average (.347), 5th in OBP (.410) and 5th in Stolen Bases (12)... Edwards also has the lowest Swinging Strike % (2%) and 3rd lowest K% in the MWL (8%). His 1.14 BB/K ratio ranks 5th. He had a 22-game on-base streak and a 14-game hitting streak (longest for any MWL hitter this year) end Tuesday.
MAKING HIS MARK: Infielder Tucupita Marcano got off to a slow start this season, slashing .179/.270/.196 through his first 15 games. But since April 22, over his last 25 games, Marcano has hit a league-best .379 with a .423 OBP and .505 SLG, 8 doubles, a triple, a homer, and 13 RBIs. He was the MWL Player of the Week for April 29-May 5. Overall this year, Marcano's .309 Average ranks 7th in the MWL. His 50 Hits are 3rd. Marcano has swung and missed at only 5% of pitches (4th lowest SwStr%) and has struck out only 11% of the times he's been up (7th lowest K%).
MAY CROWNING: Outfielder Grant Little has slashed .340/.448/.404 this month. Monday marked the first 4-hit game of his pro career... Infielder Lee Solomon has slashed .348/.474/.478 through 14 games in May. Solomon has 6 doubles and 8 RBIs in this range. He's on a season-long 7-game on-base streak.
AGE IS JUST A NUMBER: Justin Lopez, who turned 19 on May 9, has a double, a triple, and 4 home runs in his last 8 games. Lopez has recently made an adjustment in the box with less movement of his hands in his stance and is now resting his bat on his back shoulder pre-pitch. Manager Anthony Contreras compared the swing simplification to Cody Bellinger of the Dodgers.
RIPPING IT: Outfielders Agustin Ruiz and Dwanya Williams-Sutton rank 4th and 9th, respectively, in the MWL in Line Drive % on batted balls at 26% and 23%. Ruiz ranks 5th in the league in Doubles (13) and 9th in RBIs (26).
TURNAROUND: Catcher Juan Fernandez began the season 0-for-18 at the plate, but is 19-for-48 (.395) since in a 14-game span. In his last game, on Tuesday, Fernandez hit an RBI triple - his first triple since Aug. 27, 2017, in the AZL.
POWER SURGE: The TinCaps have 28 extra-base hits in their last 8 games. Fort Wayne had 2 extra-base hits combined over its previous 4 games.
Midwest League Stories from May 24, 2019
- Balanced Attack Boosts Bandits to Series-Opening 12-3 Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Hot Rods Cruise Past Dayton 8-2 to Win Third Straight - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Thompson Dominates as Cubs Whitewash Whitecaps 4-0 - South Bend Cubs
- Bees Blank LumberKings in Series Opener - Clinton LumberKings
- River Bandits Pull Away from Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Snappers Drop Series Opener against Cougars 6-1 - Beloit Sky Carp
- Count 'Em: 20 Hits - Great Lakes Loons
- Shannon, Weiss Provide Friday Fireworks - Kane County Cougars
- Benson Blasts Two Homers in 7-2 Win at Lansing - Lake County Captains
- Chiefs Score Late Runs to Take Game One - Peoria Chiefs
- 'Caps Rough Start Continues - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons Fall to Hot Rods Despite Home Runs by Siani and Rey - Dayton Dragons
- Peoria Prevails over Palm, Kernels - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Winning Streak Ends in Michigan - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Benson Blasts Caps Past Lugs, 7-2 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Lugnuts Activate Outfielder Neal - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Notes: May 24 at Great Lakes (Game 45) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Dragons Notes for Friday - Dayton Dragons
- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Ohio and Dragons Present An Anthem Home Run for Life - Dayton Dragons
- Bees Edged by Kernels in Pitchers' Duel - Burlington Bees
- Snappers mount massive comeback in suspended game, drop nightcap - Beloit Sky Carp
- LumberKings Split Double Dip with Snappers - Clinton LumberKings
- Captains Close out Dayton Series with Shutout Win - Lake County Captains
- Unassuming, Kind and Heartwarming: Ed Larson, a Bees Legend - Burlington Bees
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