MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

\'Caps Return Home With 2-0 Shutout Win

Published on June 17, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - After a long 10-day road trip, the West Michigan Whitecaps returned to Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday night and treated a boisterous crowd of 6,832 to a 2-0 win over the Lake County Captains.

West Michigan (31-36) has won 10 of their last 13 games since sinking to a season-worst 12 games below .500 on June 2. Lake County (27-40) has dropped nine straight games and 11 of their last 12 to sink into the Eastern Division cellar.

On Friday night, three Whitecaps hurlers combined on a seven-hit shutout while Hernan Perez led the offense with the only two RBI of the game.

The contest was scoreless until West Michigan finally cracked the scoreboard in the bottom of the sixth. Dixon Machado led off the frame with a single to left-center, advancing to second on an errant pickoff attempt before a bunt by Luis Castillo moved him to third. With the infield in, Perez smacked a liner past the second baseman for a 1-0 lead.

Lake County mounted their most serious threat in the eighth. Alex Monsalve and Jesus Aguilar each singled to start the rally and a bunt moved the runners to second and third with one out.

At that point, West Michigan turned to All-Star closer Bruce Rondon to get out of the jam. The hard-throwing 20-year-old responded by striking out Jordan Casas and Dwight Childs - both swinging - to leave the runners stranded in scoring position.

Perez added a solo blast in the bottom of the eighth to pad the lead, making it 2-0 with his fifth homer of the year.

Starter Kevin Eichhorn (5-3) earned the win with 6.2 scoreless innings, striking out five while scattering five hits and three walks. Antonio Cruz added two-thirds of an inning in middle relief before Rondon came in for the five-out save. Rondon retired all five of the batters that he faced, striking out four of them to move into third in the Midwest League with 11 saves.

Cole Cook (2-8) took the loss despite turning in a strong outing for the Captains, allowing just one run on five hits over seven innings of work.

The Whitecaps wind down the first half with game two of a three-game series against the Lake County Captains at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. LHP Kyle Ryan (4-5, 3.50) is slated to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Mike Goodnight (5-4, 2.45) for Lake County. It will be Japanese Baseball Night at the ballpark and fans will be treated to post-game fireworks courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. 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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Midwest League Stories from June 17, 2011


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