COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps could not manufacture much offense and fell 3-0 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the final game of a seven-game homestand Thursday night in front of a 2018-high 6,911 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.Fort Wayne accumulated an unusual type of success off
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps could not manufacture much offense and fell 3-0 to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the final game of a seven-game homestand Thursday night in front of a 2018-high 6,911 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Fort Wayne accumulated an unusual type of success off 'Caps starter Jesus Rodriguez. Rodriguez threw a quality start, allowing seven hits and three runs in six innings, but all the hits went for extra bases. Two of those doubles in the first inning gave Fort Wayne an early 1-0 lead. The Whitecaps best chance off TinCaps starting lefty Nick Margevicius came in the third inning as a Garrett McCain single and a Cole Peterson double put runners in scoring position with only one out. Margevicius induced two quick outs and went on to finish the night with seven strong innings of five-hit, seven-strikeout baseball. The hit by Peterson extended his career-best hitting streak to twelve games.
Fort Wayne tacked on single runs in the second and fifth inning and took the victory, ending West Michigan's chance to win all seven games of their homestand. Felix Viloria did throw three perfect innings of relief baseball for the Whitecaps, allowing no baserunners and striking out four. Rodriguez (2-3), took the loss for West Michigan, who entered the night only two games back of a playoff spot in the Midwest League's Eastern Division. The defeat pushed the Whitecaps overall record in the first half to 26-20. With the win, Fort Wayne broke a three-game losing skid and improved to 21-25 as Margevicius (3-2) earned the victory and Travis Radke picked up his fifth save of 2018.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps hit the road for a season-long 11-game homestand beginning with a four-game series against the South Bend Cubs from Four Winds Field on Friday at 7:35 pm. Pitcher Brad Bass gets the start for the Whitecaps against South Bend righty Cory Abbott. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 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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