It's "Win and You're in" for Whitecaps after 9-2 Victory
LANSING, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps have pulled themselves within one game of a third straight trip to the Midwest League Playoffs by virtue of a 9-2 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts Thursday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
Combined with South Bend's victory over Lake County on Thursday, the 'Caps own a 1.5 game lead on a potential playoff spot over the Captains. Either one West Michigan win or a Lake County loss in the final three games of the first half will clinch a chance for the 'Caps to defend their 2015 Midwest League Championship this September. The Whitecaps magic number now rests at one.
The way in which the Whitecaps won the contest was particularly impressive, as a combination of early offense combined with excellent pitching helped the 'Caps coast to victory on Thursday. On the very first pitch of the contest, Derek Hill launched his first home run as Whitecap to open the scoring. West Michigan added a pair in the first highlighted by Jose Azocar's RBI-single. The 'Caps scored three more in the second featuring a run-scoring double by Hill, and an RBI-single by Will Allen.
After scoring single runs in the third and fourth, pitcher Kyle Dowdy put things in cruise-control; tossing seven innings allowing just two runs while striking out a career-high 11 batters. Dowdy's strikeout total sets a team-record for 2016, breaking the previous record of nine. Allen also made history when he singled in the eighth to complete the first five-hit game for the Whitecaps since Jeff Holm on August 7, 2014 during a 14-6 victory in Lansing. As a team, the 'Caps pounded out 19 hits, tying their season-high. Dowdy (4-1) finished his first half on a high note in earning his first victory, while Lansing lefty Taylor Saucedo (2-6) allowed eight runs on 14 hits in five innings to suffer his sixth loss. Allen led the way with five hits, but Will Maddox also reached base five times by going 4-for-5 with a triple, walk and four runs scored.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this all-important four-game series with Lansing Lugnuts Friday from Cooley Law School Stadium at 7:05p.m. Fernando Perez gets the start for the 'Caps against Lansing pitcher Tom Robson. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any 2016 home game by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.