Fort Wayne TinCaps (6-9, 42-43) at West Michigan Whitecaps (6-7, 45-35)
LHP Thomas Dorminy (1-2, 3.20) vs. RHP Fernando Perez (3-3, 5.09)
Friday, July 8 — Fifth Third Ballpark — First Pitch 7:00 p.m. — Game 86
LAST NIGHT: South Bend scored four runs in the seventh inning en route to a 5-3 win over the TinCaps at Parkview Field, as the teams split the four-game series. TinCaps starter Chris Paddack (4 IP, 1 R, 6 K)made his Padres organizational debut after being acquired last week from the Miami Marlins for All-Star closer Fernando Rodney.
BELEN BASHES: 3B Carlos Belen went 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored Thursday night. The 20-year-old has been hot in the second half, hitting .367 with 7 doubles, 2 triples, a homer, and 10 RBIs. (This is after he hit .194 in the first half.) Of Belen’s 53 hits this year, 27 have gone for extra bases. He’s moved up to the No. 3 spot in the order over the last week.
PEñA’S POWER: With a leadoff home run on the first pitch of the bottom of the seventh inning Thursday, OF Jhonatan Peña has smacked 6 home runs in 14 second-half games. The native of the Dominican Republic only hit 1 home run in 50 first-half games.
EVOLVING OUTFIELD: With Michael Gettys’ mid-season promotion to Advanced-A Lake Elsinore and Rod Boykin’s stint on the disabled list, the TinCaps outfield has changed shape. Kodie Tidwell had never played the outfield before May 26 and has since settled into a standard spot in left field. Tyler Moore played left field and right field in college (South Carolina Aiken) and was drafted as a second baseman, but he’s become the typical center fielder. Alan Garcia makes his professional debut in center field tonight.
TIDWELL’S UTILITY: Kodie Tidwell has developed into a mainstay atop the order while lining up all over the diamond. Tidwell, who played shortstop at Louisiana Monroe, has played second base (15 games), shortstop (2), third base (14), left field (20), right field (1) and designated hitter (11) for the TinCaps this season.
ALUMNI REPORT: On Friday, the Washington Nationals recalled top prospect Trea Turner from Triple-A Syracuse. Turner, who hit .369 with 20 extra-base hits in 46 games in 2014 with the TinCaps, made his big league debut with the Nationals in 2015 and appeared in two MLB games in June.
MOREJON ON THE MOVE: The Padres announced Friday they’ve agreed to terms with Cuban left-handed pitcher Adrian Morejon, MLB.com’s No. 2 international prospect. The 17-year old reportedly signed for $11 million.
THE ROAD AHEAD: Following the 4-game series at West Michigan, the TinCaps return home Wednesday to begin a 6-game homestand.
