Whitecaps Lose, 3-2
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position as timely hitting and a dominant bullpen earned the Dayton Dragons a 3-2 victory over the ‘Caps Saturday night in front of 5,547 fans at LMCU Ballpark. The 'Caps finished 1-for-9 with runners in
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps failed to capitalize with runners in scoring position as timely hitting and a dominant bullpen earned the Dayton Dragons a 3-2 victory over the ‘Caps Saturday night in front of 5,547 fans at LMCU Ballpark.
The 'Caps finished 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position, as Dragons relievers Braxton Roxby, James Marinan, and Myles Gayman combined for five shutout innings on two hits and a pair of strikeouts in the win.
Tigers Top-10 prospect Ty Madden collected a single game-high six punchouts but struggled with hard contact as Dragons shortstop Elly De La Cruz blasted a solo home run in the first inning - his second in the series - before a fielding error plated Corey Joyce in the bottom half to tie the game at one. Austin Hendrick added a solo homer in the next inning to put Dayton back on top 2-1. In the fourth inning, Jimmy Mojica tied the game at two with a bases-loaded RBI-single off the foot of Dragons pitcher Christian Roa, but the 'Caps failed to do any more damage as back-to-back strikeouts stranded all three runners. Jose Torres roped the game-deciding RBI single in the fifth inning, as the Dragons bullpen held West Michigan to just two hits past the fourth inning to secure the 3-2 victory.
Madden (2-4) allowed three earned runs through five innings in his fourth loss of the season as Roxby (1-0) gets his first victory, needing just one out as he struck out Joyce to end the fourth inning. In addition, closer Myles Gayman gets his first save on the season with one shutout inning. The Dragons improve to 30-13, becoming the first team in the Midwest League to reach 30 wins, as the Whitecaps fall to 19-25. Whitecaps manager Brayan Peña sits just two wins away from 150 in his managerial career.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps finish this six-game series at LMCU Ballpark Sunday at 6:00 pm. Kieder Montero gets the start for the Whitecaps against James Proctor for Dayton. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 5:45 pm. Get your tickets for all 2022 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.