Ten Straight Wins for Whitecaps
SOUTH BEND, IN - In a game fueled with playoff-style intensity, the West Michigan Whitecaps fought tooth and nail to secure their tenth straight win with a 2-1 defeat of the South Bend Cubs Friday at Four Winds Field.
This is the longest stretch the Whitecaps have gone without a loss since they tied a franchise record with 12 straight victories from August 5-16 of 2010. The Whitecaps victory keeps the team with Minor League Baseball's longest active winning-streak.
Friday's contest didn't feature much offense, but it featured a bevy of defensive mistakes by the Cubs in the early going. Will Maddox led off the fourth inning with an infield single and advanced to third on a wild throw by Andrew Ely. Will Allen drove Maddox home with an RBI-groundout later in the frame. In total, the Cubs committed four errors on the night. In the bottom of the inning, the Cubs used a leadoff single from P.J. Higgins to give South Bend their first and only hit against 'Caps starter Beau Burrows, but Derek Hill erased the baserunner with an inning-ending double play on a phenomenal over-the-shoulder catch with his back to the infield in deep centerfield. Jose Zambrano gave the 'Caps a much-needed insurance run with a sacrifice fly in the seventh. The run loomed large as the Cubs scored their only run in the bottom of the inning on a single by Ian Rice. In the eighth, Whitecaps reliever Toller Boardman escaped a bases-loaded jam by getting Donnie Dewees to hit into another double play to end the threat.
Burrows (4-3) finished the night allowing just one base hit and a walk to earn his fourth win of the season, while South Bend starter Preston Morrison (4-3) took his third loss despite giving just one unearned run in six frames. Gerson Moreno pitched a scoreless ninth to earn his ninth save. With the victory, the 'Caps record now sits 13 games over .500 at 32-19. South Bend falls to 31-22. Maddox and Azocar each led the 'Caps with two hits in the ballgame. Azocar extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a first-inning double in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this four-game series against the South Bend Cubs with a Saturday doubleheader from Four Winds Field at 6:00p.m. Right-handers Kyle Dowdy and Fernando Perez get the starts for West Michigan against Cubs pitchers Carson Sands and Casey Bloomquist. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 5:50p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any 2016 Whitecaps home game by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.