MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Stung by Bees in Ten

Published on May 11, 2018 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jesus Rodriguez carried a no-hitter into the seventh inning, but the West Michigan Whitecaps bullpen gave up eight unanswered runs as part of an 8-6, 10-inning loss to the Burlington Bees Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The Whitecaps jumped out to an early 3-0 third inning lead on RBI-singles by Cole Peterson and Colby Bortles to knock Bees starter Isaac Matson out of the contest. Two more runs in the "Caps fifth extended their lead to 5-0 when Rey Rivera took advantage of singles by Luke Burch and Jordan Pearce and cleared the bases with one of his two doubles on the day.

Jesus Rodriguez baffled the Bees by not allowing a base-hit through his first six innings despite scattering five walks. A one-out Bees single by Keinner Pina in the seventh ended the no-hitter bid - and the evening for Rodriguez. Burlington scored four in that seventh, and then one more in the eighth as a spectacular ground ball stop by Cole Peterson and ensuing throw seemed to force first baseman Jordan Pearce's foot off the bag. The ensuing run scored tied the contest at 5-5. Play went to extra innings, and Burlington wasted no time off "Caps reliever Max Green in the tenth. A three-run home run to left field by Julio Garcia deflated the Whitecaps crowd and created an 8-5 deficit. A Colby Bortles sacrifice fly in the bottom of the tenth made the score 8-6, but the "Caps got no closer.

Green (0-2) absorbed the loss for West Michigan, and Jorge Tavarez (2-2) evened his 2018 record with the win in relief for Burlington. Ignacio Valdez, Pearce and Bortles all contributed two-hits nights as part of ten hits overall for the Whitecaps. Valdez has enjoyed eight hits, and five RBI's in his last five games. With the loss, West Michigan fell to 18-15 and have lost 12 of their last 19 games.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps continue this series against the Burlington Bees Friday at 7:05 pm. Pitcher Brad Bass starts for the Whitecaps against Bees righty Jeremy Beasley. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 p.m. 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.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 11, 2018


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