Caps' dealt first loss of the season

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps fell behind early Saturday afternoon against the Dayton Dragons and never recovered in an 8-3 loss.

It was the Whitecaps' first defeat under first-year manager Larry Parrish after back-to-back wins against the Dragons to open the 2013 season. West Michigan (2-1) scored 13 runs and registered 19 hits in their first two games, but was silenced by starter Andrew Cisco.

Cisco was dominant against the Whitecaps and struck out eight in six innings of work. He allowed only one run on three hits.  West Michigan, which committed four errors, managed only seven hits and its lone run came in the fifth inning when third baseman Matt Perry slugged a solo home run.

Dayton (1-2) scored a pair of runs in the second inning and added another in the fifth to grab a 3-0 lead.

The Whitecaps trailed 3-1 going into the ninth after reliever Chad Smith kept it close with 2 2/3 shutout innings. However, the Dragons broke it open with five runs off relievers Angel Nesbitt and Julio Felix.

West Michigan added a pair of runs in the ninth. Mike Hernandez and Adolfo Reina had run-scoring hits.

Whitecaps' starter Hudson Randall took the loss. He went 4 1/3 innings and gave up three runs on five hits. He struck out one and didn't walk a batter.

Second baseman Devon Travis went 2-for-3 with a run scored for West Michigan.

The Whitecaps will continue their season-opening seven-game homestand Sunday at 1 p.m against the Dayton Dragons in the finale of the four-game series at Fifth Third Ballpark. LHP Jordan John is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan, while the Dragons will counter with RHP Sal Romano. It will be Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day with the first 1,000 kids 12 and under eat free. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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