'Caps Blanked in Bowling Green
August 8, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BOWLING GREEN, KY - The West Michigan Whitecaps struggled to take advantage of their scoring opportunities as part of a 1-0 shutout loss to the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Wednesday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.
The Whitecaps left nine runners on-base in the defeat and went a staggering 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position. The shutout stands as the ninth time West Michigan has failed to score a run in a ballgame.
The game took on the form as a pitcher's duel, as "Caps starter Elvin Rodriguez and the Hot Rods Tommy Romero battled through a scoreless first four innings. In the fifth, Bowling Green garnered an RBI-triple by Carl Chester to score Justin Bridgman for the only run of the contest. Meanwhile, Romero retired 15 of 16 West Michigan hitters during a stretch from the first through the sixth. In the eighth, the "Caps ran into a critical out when Brady Policelli was thrown out trying to advance to second base on a potential wild pitch before loading the bases leading to a Rey Rivera groundout to end the threat.
Romero (6-0) continued his 2018 dominance over West Michigan with seven scoreless innings while striking out five in his sixth win with Bowling Green. Romero is now 2-0 with a 1.14 ERA in 23.2 innings against the Whitecaps this season. Rodriguez (6-6) took his sixth loss despite allowing just one run in six innings, while Hot Rods reliever Tyler Zombro collected his fourth save in the win. The Whitecaps fall to 22-22 in the second half and 58-56 overall but maintain a hold on a potential playoff spot in the second half of the Eastern Division standings. Bowling Green extends their Midwest League-best record to 74-40 overall and 27-18 in the second portion of 2018. Kody Clemens led a quiet "Caps offense with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
UP NEXT
This three-game series between the Whitecaps and Bowling Green Hot Rods continues Thursday night at 7:35 pm. Pitcher Jesus Rodriguez gets the start against Hot Rods lefty Resly Linares. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:25 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2018 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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