FORT WAYNE, IN - Jesus Rodriguez enjoyed the best start of his professional career as the West Michigan Whitecaps extended their winning streak to six games as part of a 3-2 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps Saturday night at Parkview Field.Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: Jesus Rodriguez ties a career-high with
FORT WAYNE, IN - Jesus Rodriguez enjoyed the best start of his professional career as the West Michigan Whitecaps extended their winning streak to six games as part of a 3-2 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps Saturday night at Parkview Field.
The six-game win streak ties a season-high, set initially from May 18-23 during a seven-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark in the first half of the season.
Rodriguez (4-3), one of the youngest Whitecaps players, tied career-highs with seven innings pitched and seven strikeouts while allowing two runs on six hits without walking a batter to give the 20-year-old his fourth win in 2018.
The Whitecaps built a 3-0 lead in the early innings highlighted by a run-scoring triple from Alexis Garcia in the fourth. Rodriguez did the rest, escaping out of Fort Wayne scoring threats featuring a runner at third and less than two outs in the fourth and fifth. In fact, the right-hander tallied all seven of his strikeouts in his final four innings on the mound. With the 'Caps leading 3-2 in the eighth, lefty Max Green walked the bases loaded before Will Vest entered to induce an inning-ending groundout by TinCaps cleanup hitter Luis Campusano to end the frame. The righty struck out the side in the ninth to send the 'Caps to victory and earn his second save of the year.
The Whitecaps improve to 38-34 with the victory, while the TinCaps fall to 32-39 with the loss. Jordan Pearce enjoyed a three-hit performance to lead the offense, while Garcia and Brady Policelli each record a pair of hits in the win. The offense put the leadoff man on-base in seven of their nine innings at the plate, but struggled with runners in scoring position, going 1-for-13 at the plate.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps conclude this series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps with a Sunday doubleheader beginning at 1:05 pm. Pitcher Brad Bass gets the start for the 'Caps in Game 1 against Fort Wayne righty Mason Thompson. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 12:55 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2018 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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