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West Michigan Whitecaps

MACIEL FANS 10 AS CAPS TWIRL ANOTHER SHUTOUT

August 21, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jon Maciel struck out 10 batters over seven innings of one-hit baseball and the West Michigan Whitecaps twirled their second consecutive shutout with a 5-0 win over the Dayton Dragons on Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

With the back-to-back shutouts, the West Michigan (37-22, 78-51) pitching staff has thrown 21 consecutive innings without allowing a run and registered nine shutout victories this season. Maciel and two relievers combined on the three-hit shutout and struck out 13 Dayton (28-31, 64-63) hitters, improving the Whitecaps to a season-high 27 games over .500.

The 21-year-old from California was spectacular, setting a career-high with the 10 punch-outs while equaling a personal best with seven innings pitched. Maciel (6-6) allowed a single to the second batter of the game - the only hit that he gave up - while issuing one walk and facing just two batters over the minimum. An 18th-round pick in the 2013 draft, Maciel did not allow a runner to reach scoring position and struck out the last six batters he faced, inducing one groundball double play during his 94-pitch gem.

For a time, Dayton's Jackson Stephens was matching him zero-for-zero. The Dragons' 20-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit through his first 4.1 innings before the 'Caps broke through in the bottom of the fifth.

The go-ahead rally began with a single by Domingo Leyba, part of a 3-for-4 night for the 18-year-old shortstop. After Bennett Pickar drew a walk and Francisco Contreras was hit by a pitch to load the bases with one out, Wynton Bernard sent a blooper into foul territory. First baseman Robert Ramirez raced to the spot but was backpedaling as he made the catch. Leyba aggressively tagged up and raced home from third, sliding in safely as catcher Chad Tromp failed to cleanly handle the low throw.

West Michigan quickly added to the 1-0 lead. With the bases loaded and nobody out in the sixth inning, Ross Kivett pulled a two-run single through the left side of the infield. In the seventh, Javier Betancourt yanked a two-run homer to left as the Whitecaps asserted a 5-0 cushion.

Following Maciel's dominant 10-strikeout performance, the bullpen took over for the final two innings. Montreal Robertson worked around a two-out rally in the eighth to strike out the side and strand the bases loaded. In the ninth, Julio Felix worked a 1-2-3 inning to complete the three-hitter.

Stephens (2-5) was charged with three runs on three hits in five innings to suffer the loss for Dayton.

The Whitecaps continue their final extended homestand of the regular season on Friday night with a 7:00 p.m. game against the Dayton Dragons. LHP Kevin Ziomek (10-6, 2.27) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Nick Howard (1-1, 5.30) of Dayton on the final Tiger Friday of the season. In addition to an appearance by Craig Monroe and a bobblehead doll giveaway in his likeness, there will also be a post-game Family Fare fireworks show. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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