Santana Makes a Difference, All-Star TinCaps, Pics from the Road

To sum up Monday’s 4-3, 13-inning loss in brief, I present to you the following statistic: Fort Wayne struck out 14 times in the game against Lake County, and 10 of those strikeouts came from the ninth inning onward. The TinCaps got out to an early lead, but it was the Captains who had their bats come to life late.

With two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning, MLB rehabber Carlos Santana came to the plate. He was scheduled for just four at bats on Monday night, and had gone hitless in his first three.

The score was 3-1 Fort Wayne, Matt Stites was pitching, and here’s what happened:

The score remained tied at three until the bottom of the 13th, when Todd Hankins ended the game:

Today is an off day for Fort Wayne. The team heads to Comstock Park, Michigan, tomorrow for the first of three with the West Michigan Whitecaps. The team hotel features coffee in the lobby with flavored creamer. This is either a) quite the amenity or b) I am far too easy to please. That’s rhetorical…don’t answer that. The phenomenon that occurs when I come across said creamer is similar to this:

In off day news, I got an $8 haircut today. When was the last time anyone got an $8 haircut? I bought a sandwich for lunch that, with tax, cost more than $8. I consider the haircut a small victory.

In today’s TinCaps Report Podcast, hear from reliever Dennis O’Grady. The New York native grew up just minutes from teammate Matt Colantonio and says the two knew each other as they rose through the baseball ranks:

HEADED TO THE ALL-STAR GAME

The Midwest League released its All-Star team on Monday night, and four TinCaps have made the cut. Austin Hedges will be the starting catcher for the Eastern Division, and he’ll be joined by shortstop Jace Peterson, along with pitchers Adys Portillo and Frank Garces.

You can read the full story by clicking here.

The All-Star Game takes place on June 19th at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark in Geneva, Illinois, the home of the Kane County Cougars.

PHOTOS FROM THE ROAD

Padres Pitching Coordinator Mike Cather was in town the last few days while the TinCaps played the TinCaps, and he brought his six-year-old son, Colby, with him for the trip. Here’s James Needy, who is 6’6″ tall, standing next to Colby. That’s the tallest guy on the team next to the shortest lad on the field.