MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

One Is the Loneliest Number for Whitecaps

Published on May 31, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps received solid pitching, but their bats fell silent once again in a 1-0 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps Thursday night in front of 4.292 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Whitecaps pitchers Chance Kirby and Sandel De La Cruz combined to give up only six hits on the night, but the offense managed only four hits and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position. The shutout represents the fourth time in the last eight games the Whitecaps have failed to score a run -- three of the games by a 1-0 score.

Pitcher Sam Keating started for Fort Wayne, and Hugh Smith countered for the Whitecaps. The "Caps stranded two runners in the second in one of their few scoring chances in the contest. Fort Wayne scored the game's only run in the third inning. Two singles and a walk loaded the bases. Smith followed with a walk to Michael Curry which brought home the game's lone run. With the bags still full, Smith avoided further damage by getting out of the inning to end the TinCaps threat. In the Whitecaps fifth inning, Rey Rivera opened with a double and Jordan Pearce followed by reaching base on a fielding error. Parker Meadows laid down a perfect sacrifice bunt which put runners on second and third, but Keating struck out Avery Tuck to end the inning. Fort Wayne carried the 1-0 advantage to the bottom of the ninth. Rivera reached on an infield error, and one out later Meadows walked to put the tying run in scoring position. Tuck and Jeremiah Burks both struck out to extinguish a potential walk-off win. The Whitecaps left nine runners on the base paths as Fort Wayne won three games of the four-game series.

Smith (0-2) pitched well for the "Caps despite the loss, scattering four hits, allowing one earned run and recording a career-high seven strikeouts in five total innings. Sandel De La Cruz was impressive out of the "Caps bullpen, working four innings and giving up only two singles. The Whitecaps relief corps hasn't allowed an earned run in six games vs. Fort Wayne in 2019. Keating (2-2) evened his season record with five innings of three-hit pitching and six strikeouts for the TinCaps. West Michigan slips to 19-35 in 2019 and finishes with a mark of 5-14 at home in May. Fort Wayne wins for the fourth time in six games this season against the Whitecaps and even their overall record to 26-26.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps hit the road for a three-game series at Classic Park against the Lake County Captains beginning Friday night at 6:30 pm. Whitecaps lefty Kacey Murphy gets the start for West Michigan against Lake County pitcher Juan Mota. Broadcast coverage with former West Michigan Whitecaps radio voice Dave Skoczen, who's filling in for the weekend series, begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2019 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 31, 2019


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