The month of August was up and down for Fort Wayne but they ended on a high note and were able to capture a playoff spot with the last game of the regular season versus West Michigan. Those two teams played a best of three series to determine the winner of the last playoff spot.

During the month the Tincaps had several players rise to the occasion and play above their previous level. They also got continuing standout contributions from their two dominant outfielders, Rymer Liriano and Luis Domoromo.

Second baseman Cory Spangenberg, who started off slow for the Tincaps, hit his stride. He raised his average from .164 at the beginning of the month to finish the season .286/.345/.365 with seven doubles, a triple and two homeruns with twenty four runs batted in.  He also finished with fifteen out of nineteen stolen bases.

Fort Wayne has markedly improved play so far in the second half. The pitching has been more consistent and the hitters are doing better in scoring opportunities with some of the newly acquired players from the 2011 draft joining the ranks and contributing.

Outfielders Rymer Liriano and Luis Domoromo continue to do the heavy lifting as the two top HR hitters and RBI leaders. With Liriano contributing 2 RBI for the week and Domoromo knocking in 6 RBI.

Recently promoted Cory Spangenberg is continuing his adjustment to the TinCaps but has raised his average from .158 to .172 and had three RBI for the week.

Fort Wayne completed a six game win streak during the week, giving them a 5-1 record for the week and a 14-13 overall record for the second half. This put them over .500 and into fourth place in their division. With much improved pitching and timely hitting they are working their way into a much more successful second half of the season.

Continuing to shine are starting pitchers Keyvius Sampson and Dennis O’Grady, who had six and eight strikeouts in their starts, over 6 or 6.1 innings pitched. Youthful starter Adys Portillo continues to battle his control problems and pitched 5.2 innings of three hit ball in his start during the week. Sampson only allowed two hits in his six innings and his ERA now sits at 3.02.

Fort Wayne is battling to improve their second half season record and got overall good performances during the week to achieve a 4-2 record for the week and 9-12 overall.

Starting pitchers Sampson, Hardy and newcomer O’Grady each contributed great efforts to win three of those games. Sampson improved his season record to 8-2 with a 3.27 ERA with another five innings pitched and allowing five hits and one run with six strikeouts. Hardy (6-7, 2.66 ERA) threw six innings with five hits and six strikeouts while O’Grady lasted six innings with four hits and five strikeouts (1-0, 2.45 ERA).

Deiber Sanchez came off the DL into a relief role, lowering his ERA to 3.31.

OF Rymer Liriano held his average over .300 with two doubles and five RBI while adding four stolen bases to equal 44 for the year.

CF Rico Noel continue to hit better with two doubles and three RBI for the week.

1B/3B Connor Powers increased his average from .287 to .310 with three doubles and four RBI during the week.

The Padres signed free agent LHP Todd Privett and assigned him to the TinCaps as a starter, presumably taking the place of Sanchez in the rotation.

Reliever Noah Mull went to the DL with a groin strain.

C/1B Tommy Medica comes off the DL and goes to Arizona to begin his rehab.

2011 first round draftee 2B Cory Spangenberg was promoted from Eugene to FW on 7/13 but was hitless in his first three games although he did steal a base after a walk.

Catcher Jhonaldo Pozo was promoted to LE as the shifting of catchers throughout the organization continues. Emmanuel Quiles has emerged as the primary catcher with Cole Tyrell as his backup.

It appears that Liriano, Domoromo and Powers will be doing the majority of the heavy lifting for Fort Wayne but the rest of the lineup will need to boost their hitting to support them. There are currently five hitters hovering around or slightly below .250 and those will need to nudge up for the TinCaps to continue to be successful over the second half of the season.