Fort Wayne — After an hour and a half rain delay, the Fort Wayne TinCaps and Wisconsin Timber Rattlers did manage to fit in Friday night’s game at Parkview Field.
However, the TinCaps once against struggled mightily to slow down a red-hot Wisconsin offense, falling by a final score of 11-3 and stretching Fort Wayne’s losing streak to seven games. The TinCaps have surrendered 37 runs in four games in the series.
Coming into the night, left-hander Kash Mayfield had allowed no runs and just one hit in 12 innings of work at High-A. Through the first three innings, he continued humming, allowing only one walk, which was promptly erased by a double-play.
Things finally came apart for the 21-year-old in the fourth inning as Wisconsin rallied for three runs on three hits and a walk. Two of the runs charged came via a two-run shot off the bat of Andrew Fischer. It was the Brewers’ No. 5 prospect’s third home run in the last two games.
Having already thrown 72 pitches, Mayfield didn’t return for the fifth. He settled for a season-low three strikeouts on the night.
Kash Mayfield has been stellar in the early-going for Fort Wayne. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
“Early season assessment is that Kash has been outstanding,” said TinCaps manager Johnathan Mathews. “I thought he threw the ball really well tonight. He threw strikes, and he changed speeds. I couldn’t be more pleased with how Kash pitched.”
Mayfield’s fastball sat 91-93 mph most of the night, topping out at 94. Against a talented lefty-heavy Wisconsin line up, he made an effort to work in his breaking ball more often than he has.
“Today was a good opportunity to work on that pitch,” Mathews said.
Following Mayfield’s departure, Fort Wayne used four bullpen arms to cover the next five innings. They combined to allow eight runs, with six charged to left-hander C.J. Widger. The relief staff now has a minor-league worst 8.96 ERA on the year.
Tucker Musgrove was first out of the pen Friday. The right-hander allowed a run on one hit with two more walks and a pair of strikeouts. While his four-seamer topped out at 99 and he generated a 30.7% whiff rate, he also threw just 54% of his pitches for strikes and walked two batters for a second straight outing.
“I think he’s just getting adjusted,” said Mathews. “Having traveled the system last season, I do think the biggest adjustment in minor league ball is from Low-A to High-A. This is a lot closer to Double-A than it is to Lake Elsinore.
Alex McCoy continues to make loud contact. (Photo: Jeff Nycz)
All three of Fort Wayne’s runs came courtesy of Alex McCoy. The big 6-foot-5 outfielder extended his hitting streak to 15 games with a 2-for-4 night, headlined by a mammoth two-run homer in the bottom of the third. The blast left his bat at 104.0 mph and traveled 382 feet onto the concourse in left field.
McCoy’s 15-game hit streak is the longest for a TinCaps player since Fernando Tatís Jr.’s streak in 2017.
“Alex is clearly a physically imposing guy, but his bat-to-ball is pretty good,” Mathews said. “He swings at the right pitches, and most of his swing and misses come from chase. If he is managing the strike zone, his punch outs will keep going down.”
McCoy’s .627 slugging percentage is good for seventh on the circuit. Every hitter ahead of him has significantly fewer at-bats.
