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TinCaps Game Notes: May 4 @ Quad Cities (Game 27)

Fort Wayne TinCaps (10-16) at Quad Cities River Bandits (13-11)

LHP Jerry Keel (1.93) vs. LHP Brett Adcock (1.02)

Thursday, May 4, 2017— Modern Woodmen Park (Davenport, IA) — First Pitch 7:35 p.m. — Game 27

LAST NIGHT: Logan Allen, Blake Rogers, and David Bednar combined to shut out the River Bandits, as the TinCaps won 4-0. Brad Zunica hit a 2-run homer in the second, while Jack Suwinski and Eguy Rosario added RBI doubles in the third.

ON THIS DAY: In 1871, Fort Wayne hosted the first game in pro baseball history. The Fort Wayne Kekiongas played the Cleveland Forest Citys in the debut of the National Association, which later evolved into the National League. Fort Wayne won, 2-0. The game was played at the Kekionga Ball Grounds, which today is Camp Allen Park, along the St. Marys River—northwest of Downtown Fort Wayne.

REMEMBERING HISTORY: Today a monument marking the historic game between the Kekiongas and the Forest Citys was dedicated at its present-day site in Camp Allen Park. The efforts to recognize this history were led by the Fort Wayne chapter of the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR) and its chairman, Bill Griggs.

MAY THE FOURTH: The TinCaps will host their annual Star Wars Night at Parkview Field on Friday, May 19. The team revealed their newest Star Wars jerseys today on social media.

SUWINSKI’S PATIENCE: Jack Suwinski has seen more pitches this year than anyone else in the Midwest League. In 116 plate appearances, he’s seen 610 pitches. That’s an average of 5.2 pitches/PA. (No one else in the league has seen more than 573.) While Suwinski is batting .198 (below the league average of .241), his on-base percentage is .336 (above the league average of .316). Suwinski has drawn 17 walks — 3rd most in the MWL. That’s a walk in 14% of his plate appearances.

ROSARIO’S RISE: Eguy Rosario has been on base in 12 of his last 13 games after doubling last night. Since April 20, Minor League Baseball’s youngest player has slashed .273/.407/.432. (In the 17-year-old’s first 11 games, his line was .186/.239/.256.)

ZUNICA’S POWER & PATIENCE: Brad Zunica has 11 hits this year—5 home runs, 4 doubles, and just 2 singles (1 of which was off the center-field fence and he was out at second base trying to make it a double). So while his AVG is .220, his on-base percentage is .409, as he’s drawn 16 walks in 16 starts. Zunica has drawn a walk in 24% of his plate appearances (2nd best in the MWL among guys with 60+ PAs; Lansing’s Jake Thomas is at 33%). Zunica has reached base in 13 of his last 14. His rate of 1 homer/10 at-bats is the highest ration in the league.

LEAGUE LEADERS: Jack Suwinski is 3rd in the MWL in walks drawn (17)… Brad Zunica is tied for 5th in home runs (5) and 4th in walks (16)… Eguy Rosario is tied for 2nd in doubles (8)… Fernando Tatis Jr. and Reinaldo Ilarraza are tied for 7th in stolen bases (6).

AS A TEAM: The TinCaps have drawn the 2nd most walks (4.1/G) in the MWL and have the 2nd most stolen bases (26).