Whitecaps Tie Shutout Record in 7-0 Win

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Tom de Blok dominated the Quad Cities River Bandits by throwing seven innings of shutout baseball, and the offense contributed with extra base power as part of an impressive 7-0 victory by the West Michigan Whitecaps on a beautiful Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark in front of 6,213 fans. 
Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: MUST SEE: @derekhill27 with a @SportsCenter #SCTop10 diving catch in DEEP centerfield! #wcaps #tigers #webgem pic.twitter.com/P6qttkWA4K
The game began with both starters dominating in the early innings-de Blok for West Michigan and Carlos Sanabria for Quad Cities. In fact, both starters carried no-hitters through the first three innings. A Danny Woodrow double and an RBI single off the bat of Anthony Pereira broke the hit drought and brought the 'Caps lead to 1-0. de Blok retired the first 13 Quad Cities batters before Daz Cameron broke up the no-hit bid with a flare single to left-centerfield. The Whitecaps chipped away offensively with two more runs in the fifth inning. Cole Bauml drilled the first of his two doubles to lead off the fifth inning, and after a Chad Sedio RBI sacrifice fly brought Bauml home, Drew Longley lifted a towering solo home run to left field, increasing the margin to 3-0. Zac Shepard brought in another run with an RBI double in the seventh inning-part of four doubles tallied by the 'Caps, and finally a big three-run eighth inning sealed the deal. An RBI triple by Derek Hill, a Danny Woodrow RBI single and a Bauml double extended the lead to 7-0.
de Blok (2-0) picked up the victory, relinquishing only three hits-all singles, as part of the longest outing in his career, as well as tying a career best with eight strikeouts. John Schreiber and Trent Szkutnik both pitched one inning each in relief for West Michigan. Szkutnik's walk to Osvaldo Duarte and single to University of Michigan product Carmen Benedetti and a groundball out put runners at second and third with one out. However, Szkutnik preserved the win and helped tie the Whitecaps record for most shutouts in a season (19) by striking out the last two River Bandits. Sanabria (4-3) took the loss, giving up six hits and four earned runs in 6.1 innings.
Derek Hill paced the Whitecaps both offensively and defensively. Hill's two triples tied a franchise record for most in a single game. Hill tried to stretch his first triple into an inside-the park-home run, but a strong throw cut down Hill at home plate. Hill also made one of the best catches of the year by fully extending at the warning track and making a diving grab off a deep fly ball off the River Bandits Cameron in the seventh inning. The 'Caps outhit Quad Cities ten to four as Woodrow and Bauml enjoyed two hit days and seven different Whitecaps recorded an RBI. The Whitecaps improved to 62-28 in 2017 and 17-6 in the second half standings. Quad Cities lost for just the 3^rd time in 15 games and moved to 54-38 and 17-7 in the second half.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps conclude their series against the Quad Cities River Bandits with a JQ99 Bulletin Night at 7:00p.m. Pitcher Anthony Castro gets the start for West Michigan against Quad Cities pitcher Yohan Ramirez. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any Whitecaps 2017 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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