'Caps Drop Series Finale
August 14, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
FORT WAYNE, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps offensive struggles continued as part of a 5-1 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Tuesday night at Parkview Field.
The Whitecaps offense, which ranks last in the Midwest League in runs scored, plated only 11 runs during a seven-game road trip, and never managed more than three runs in any contest. West Michigan finishes their week away from home with a 2-5 record, losing sole possession of the top spot in the Midwest League Eastern Division second-half playoff race.
The TinCaps opened the scoring with an RBI-single by Nick Feight to take a 1-0 lead in the first inning. Kody Clemens helped the Whitecaps briefly tie the game in the third with a single to score Luke Sherley. Fort Wayne responded with a Jack Suwinski sacrifice fly in the third to retake the lead at 2-1 before launching a solo homer in the sixth. A sacrifice fly by Jeisson Rosario and run-scoring single by Esteury Ruiz helped the TinCaps build a 5-1 lead, which proved too much to overcome as the Whitecaps lost their third straight game, and fifth of their last seven contests.
MacKenzie Gore (2-5), one of the top prospects in baseball, earned his second victory of the season by tossing six innings of one-run baseball while striking out five. Elvin Rodriguez (6-7) gave up three runs in six innings in taking his seventh loss of 2018. Tuesday marks the fourth straight quality start for Rodriguez in a stretch where the "Caps have scored a total of five runs in his last four games and have posted a 1-3 record.
The Whitecaps second-half record falls to 24-26 and 60-60 overall to fall into a first-place tie with Fort Wayne in the second-half playoff race. The TinCaps improve to 56-63 on the season and 24-26 in the second half. The Whitecaps hit 5-for-57 (.088) with runners in scoring position during their seven-game stretch away from Fifth Third Ballpark.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps return home for a three-game series with the rival Lansing Lugnuts beginning Wednesday from Fifth Third Ballpark at 7:05 pm. Jesus Rodriguez gets the start for West Michigan against Lansing righty Maximo Castillo. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 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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