COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Six strong innings from pitcher Elvin Rodriguez, and a Garrett McCain RBI-single helped the West Michigan Whitecaps outlast the Fort Wayne TinCaps 2-1 Wednesday morning in front of a season-high 6,483 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: Our second School Day was a success and
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Six strong innings from pitcher Elvin Rodriguez, and a Garrett McCain RBI-single helped the West Michigan Whitecaps outlast the Fort Wayne TinCaps 2-1 Wednesday morning in front of a season-high 6,483 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Fort Wayne starter and Mount Pleasant, MI native Aaron Leasher relinquished two first-inning singles to Cole Peterson, and Brady Policelli before Colby Bortles plated Peterson with a sacrifice fly and provided the Whitecaps a 1-0 advantage. The RBI gave Bortles the team lead with 23. Rodriguez started strong, but a walk, a single and Robbie Podorsky double in the third inning tied the game at one. On the play, a strong relay by the Whitecaps defense cut down the potential lead run at home plate as Esteury Ruiz was thrown at home plate to end the threat. Rodriguez settled in and allowed only two base runners in his last three innings. The six innings pitched, and nine strikeouts set career records for Rodriguez, as he scattered four hits on the day.
In the sixth inning, West Michigan took advantage of TinCaps throwing error as McCain came through with a run-scoring single, giving the 'Caps a 2-1 advantage and eventual win. McCain has batted .389 against Fort Wayne pitching in 2018. Clate Schmidt finished the last three innings in relief for the 'Caps and picked up his third save of the year. Schmidt scattered five hits but allowed no walks in helping West Michigan win seven of the last nine games. Rodriguez (3-2) earned the win for the Whitecaps, and Leasher (2-3) took the loss. Policelli and Burch each enjoyed two hits of the eight overall for the Whitecaps. With the win, West Michigan moved to 26-19 overall and boasts a season-high six game win streak. During the streak, the 'Caps have accumulated a team ERA of 1.62 and are batting .333.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps finish this four-game series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps Thursday at 7:05 pm. Pitcher Jesus Rodriguez gets the start for the Whitecaps against Fort Wayne lefty Nick Margevicius. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 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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