Ladwig quiets Captain bats
EASTLAKE, OH - A.J. Ladwig allowed an unearned run over six innings and Austin Schotts launched his first home run of the season as the West Michigan Whitecaps cruised to a 5-1 win over the Lake County Captains Tuesday night.
Ladwig (4-4) was efficient in earning his fourth win of the season, despite waiting through a 22-minute fifth-inning rain delay to walk just two hitters and strike out three. West Michigan scored all of their runs in the first four innings, as Austin Schotts went deep off Lake County starter Jordan Milbrath with a runner on-base in the fourth. Joey Pankake also drove in a pair of runs, and Ross Kivett returned to the lineup to deliver three hits near his hometown of Broadview Heights, OH to lead the Whitecaps.
Milbrath (2-5) gave up 11 hits and five runs over four innings in suffering his fifth loss in 2015. The Whitecaps record improves to a season-best 24-22, and the Captains fall to 24-22. The teams are now in a three-way tie with the Dayton Dragons for third place in the Midwest League Eastern division.
THOMPSON'S WEEKLY WINNER
Whitecaps pitcher Jeff Thompson brought home Midwest League Pitcher of the Week after posting a 2-0 record over two starts spanning 11.2 innings. During that time, Thompson didn't allow a run on only six hits while striking out 14. The righty is the second Whitecaps pitcher to win the award after Ladwig took home the honor last week.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this three-game series against the Captains beginning Wednesday at 11:00am. Pitcher Trent Szkutnik starts for the Whitecaps against Lake County's Sean Brady. Radio coverage with Dan Hasty begins at 10:50a.m. on the Whitecaps Baseball Network. Don't forget that season, group and individual tickets can be reserved for any 2015 home game by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.