Saucedo Sends Whitecaps to Fifth Straight Defeat
LANSING, MI - A complete game shutout by Lansing Lugnuts lefty Tayler Saucedo sent the West Michigan Whitecaps to their season-high fifth straight loss in a 6-0 defeat Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium.
While Saucedo was cruising, third baseman Juan Kelly had a huge game of his own, and started it with a 'bang'. On the first pitch he saw of the game, he launched a tape-measure two-run homer to right-center field, giving the Lugnuts all the offense they would need and a 2-0 lead. Andrew Guillotte was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded in the second to extend the lead to 3-0. Lansing doubled their lead in the sixth to put the game out of reach when Kelly added to his big night with a run-scoring single. Kelly finished the contest 3-for-5 with a homerun and three RBI. A base hit later in the frame by Connor Panas plated two more runs to end the scoring in the contest, and continue Lansing's hot stretch of baseball over the 'Caps. Meanwhile, Saucedo was keeping Whitecaps hitters off balance all night, scattering nine hits and two walks while striking out four to record the first complete game shutout of his professional career. The Lugnuts have now won five straight games - all over West Michigan.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Fernando Perez (2-3) worked in and out of trouble throughout his five innings, but finished allowing only three runs on eight hits and three walks in suffering his third loss. Saucedo (3-6) was outstanding for Lansing to pick up his third win of the year. The Whitecaps fall to 39-31, while the Lugnuts improve to 39-34. Will Maddox chipped in with a pair of base hits in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps finish this four-game series with the Lugnuts on Sunday afternoon from Cooley Law School Stadium beginning at 2:05p.m. A pair of Midwest League All-Stars take the mound, as righty Kyle Dowdy toes the slab for the 'Caps against 2015 Toronto Blue Jays first-round pick Jon Harris. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:55p.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.