COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps first-half struggles continued as part of a 9-3 loss to the Dayton Dragons Thursday in front of at 6,649 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark. Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: This one really got out of hand...The 'Caps hit the road next week, returning home
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps first-half struggles continued as part of a 9-3 loss to the Dayton Dragons Thursday in front of at 6,649 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.
The loss results in a three-game sweep of the Whitecaps - the first by the Dragons in West Michigan since July of 2010. The 'Caps fall into last place in the Eastern Division with a 20-40 record and have lost 22 of their previous 26 games.
Dayton took a 1-0 lead in the first on a run-scoring single by Miles Gordon before the Whitecaps took their only lead of the series with a three-run second. RBI-singles by Kingston Liniak and Jose King gave West Michigan a 3-1 edge. In the fifth, Gordon blooped a two-run single to tie the game at three. In the seventh, Michael Siani highlighted a four-hit night with a go-ahead single to give Dayton a 4-3 lead. An inning later, the Dragons scored five times to put the game out of reach highlighted by a run-scoring double by Miguel Hernandez to extend the lead to 9-3 and conclude the scoring in the contest.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Wilkel Hernandez retired 14 straight batters during his five innings on the mound, striking out a career-high nine batters in taking a no-decision. Dayton reliever Adrian Rodriguez (2-2) tossed a pair of scoreless relief innings to collect his second win of the season, while lefty Drew Crosby (1-2) gave up three runs in 2.2 frames in suffering his second loss of the season. The Dragons improve to a 21-39 record, while the Whitecaps record falls to the worst in the Midwest League at 20-40. Eight of the nine players in the Whitecaps starting lineup collected a base hit in a losing effort. Siani finished the night with four hits while Hernandez chipped in with a 3-for-5 performance at the plate.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps hit the road for their longest travel trip of the remaining 2019 season for seven games beginning with a four-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods opening Friday at 7:35 pm. Pitcher Hugh Smith gets the start for West Michigan against Bowling Green's Easton McGee. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:25 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2019 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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