Whitecaps Shut Down Dragons, 8-0
May 29, 2012
Click Here to see the Box Score
Dayton (R-H-E): 0-8-3
West Michigan (R-H-E): 8-7-0
WP: Marcelo Carreno (1-4)
LP: Dan Jensen (2-5)
Sv: None
HR: Dayton: None
HR: West Michigan: Pat Smith (1st, 0 on base in second inning).
Grand Rapids, Mich.-Three West Michigan pitchers combined on an eight-hit shutout as the Whitecaps defeated the Dayton Dragons 8-0 on Tuesday afternoon. The two clubs split the four-game series with the Dragons winning the first two games and the Whitecaps taking the last two.
West Michigan (23-29) scored two runs in the first inning, one in the second, and three in the fourth to build an early 6-0 lead. They added two more runs in the sixth to close out the scoring. Whitecaps starting pitcher Marcelo Carreno (1-4) worked the first five innings to earn the win, allowing five hits and one walk with three strikeouts.
The Dragons (19-33) were shutout for the first time since May 5 vs. Fort Wayne. After scoring at least six runs in six out of seven games through Sunday, the Dragons have scored only one run over their last two games. Kurtis Muller was 3 for 4 to lead the Dragons eight-hit attack to raise his batting average to .441 in his eight games with the team. Sean Buckley had two hits including a double for the Dragons.
Dayton starting pitcher Dan Jensen (2-5) worked the first three innings and faced the first four batters in the fourth. He allowed six hits and six runs with three walks and no strikeouts to suffer the loss. James Allen replaced Jensen and fired two scoreless innings, allowing no hits or walks with three strikeouts. Jimmy Moran tossed two innings and allowed two runs, giving up one hit and two walks. Mike Dennhardt pitched one perfect inning.
Ryan Wright was 0 for 2 when he left the game with a sprained left wrist in the fifth inning, ending his 11-game hitting streak. Wright, batting .315, recorded the longest hitting streak of the year to date by a Dayton player. Wright will be examined on Wednesday but is not expected to miss significant time. His removal from the game was a precautionary measure. The injury occurred when Wright, covering first base on a bunt play, reached to catch a throw and was struck by the runner as he arrived at the base.
The Dragons host the South Bend Silver Hawks at Fifth Third Field on Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. (WONE 980 AM) in the start of a three-game series. Radhames Quezada (1-6, 4.56) will start for Dayton against South Bend's Archie Bradley (6-1, 3.06). The second and third games of the series will be televised Thursday and Friday on WHIO Digital Channel 7.2 (Time Warner Cable channels 23 and 372). Former Reds first baseman Todd Benzinger will appear on the telecast on Thursday while Chris Sexton, a former Reds infielder who starred at St. Xavier High School and Miami University, will be on the Friday telecast.