'Caps Snap Losing Skid
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps snapped their five-game losing streak with a 2-1 victory over the Dayton Dragons Friday night in front of 8,481 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark Friday night.
The began as a pitcher's duel, as starters Kyle Dowdy and Jesus Reyes kept the game scoreless through the first three innings. In the fourth, the Dragons opened the scoring when Nick Senzel launched a solo home run, his seventh of the season to give Dayton a 1-0 lead. The 'Caps answered in the bottom of the inning when Brett Pirtle's ground ball shot through the legs of Dragons first baseman James Vasquez and into the right-field corner to score Will Maddox from first base and tie the game. Joey Havrilak followed with a go-ahead run-scoring single in the bottom of the inning to take a 2-1 lead. After Senzel's homer, the Dragons went without a baserunner until the eighth, when Alberti Chavez led off the inning with a double. Chavez never left second base as Trent Szkutnik proceeded to strike out the side to end the threat. In the ninth, Dayton put runners at first and third base with two outs before Mark Ecker got Shane Mardirosian to groundout to third to end the game and help the 'Caps break their five-game losing streak.
Dowdy (9-2) earned his ninth victory with 5.2 innings of one-run baseball allowing only two hits in the contest, while Reyes (5-4) took his fourth loss despite allowing just two unearned runs in six frames. The Whitecaps improve to 62-57 overall and 23-29 in the second half. The Dragons fall to 41-83 overall, and 20-34 in the second half standings. Havrilak led the way for the 'Caps offense with a three-hit performance including a triple and an RBI. Dayton's loss snaps their six-game winning streak.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this three-game series against the Dayton Dragons from Fifth Third Ballpark Saturday night at 7:00p.m. Pitcher Beau Burrows takes the mound for the 'Caps against right-hander Jesus Reyes. Broadcast coverage with Steve Lloyd-Jones begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50p.m. There are only five more Whitecaps regular season home games at Fifth Third Ballpark in 2016. Tickets can be reserved or any of the remaining 2016 home contests by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.