Fort Wayne TinCaps (1-1) vs. Bowling Green Hot Rods (1-1)

RHP Austin Smith vs. RHP Peter Bayer

Saturday, April 8, 2017— Parkview Field — First Pitch 6:05 p.m. — Game 3

LAST NIGHT: After a 4-1 opening night win, the TinCaps fell to the Hot Rods, 6-4, in Bowling Green. Fort Wayne held leads of 1-0 and 3-2 with a first-inning RBI single from right fielder Jorge Oña and a fourth-inning 2-run homer from designated hitter Brad Zunica. But the Hot Rods put up pairs of runs in the third, fourth, and sixth, respectively. The TinCaps chipped into their deficit in the eighth when G.K. Young hit an RBI triple. The 3 hour, 25-minute game was marred by 12 combined walks, plus 2 hit batters.

PARKVIEW FIELD OPENER: Tonight begins year 9 for the TinCaps in Downtown Fort Wayne. This is the franchise’s 25th season overall. Since moving into Parkview Field, the TinCaps are 5-3 in home openers, including a 9-5 win over Lake County on April 7 last year.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A YEAR MAKES: The temperature at first pitch for Parkview Field’s Opening Day last year was 36°. The morning of the game the field was covered in snow.

YOUTH MOVEMENT: At 17, Eguy (Eggy) Rosario is not only the youngest TinCap and not only the youngest in the Midwest League, but the youngest player in all of Minor League Baseball right now (according to Baseball America). Reinaldo Ilarraza is the 4th youngest in the MWL, while Fernando Tatis Jr. checks in at 5th, Hudson Potts 7th, and Jack Suwinski 10th. They’re all 18.

STRIKEOUTS APLENTY: Through the first 2 games of the season, TinCaps pitchers have recorded 29 strikeouts, while Hot Rods pitchers have racked up 32 Ks.

BIG BRAD: Brad Zunica, who led the TinCaps with 14 home runs last year (tied for 6th most in MWL), launched his first long ball of the season last night and also doubled. Zunica homered in each of the first 2 games at Parkview Field in 2016.

OÑA ON TRACK: Right fielder Jorge Oña is the first TinCap this season to 3 hits, as well as 3 RBIs.

SUWINSKI SETS TABLE: Left fielder Jack Suwinski has 2 hits and 3 walks as the leadoff hitter through 2 games — good for a .556 on-base percentage.

THE OTHER GUYS: Bowling Green’s roster features the following Top 30 Tampa Bay Rays prospects, per MLB.com… OF Josh Lowe (No. 6), OF Jesus Sanchez (No. 7), OF Garrett Whitley (No. 11), SS Lucius Fox (No. 13), and 3B/SS Adrian Rondon (No. 14).

PADRES ON DECK: The TinCaps will wear white Padres jerseys tomorrow and for every Sunday home game this season.