MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

West Michigan Swept As Skid Continues

Published on July 1, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps lost their fifth straight game on Monday, ending a 1-5 homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 6-1 loss to the Bowling Green Hot Rods.

After winning five of their first seven games of the second half, West Michigan (5-7, 38-44) has scuffled to their longest losing streak of the season during an offensive slump in which they have managed just six runs in a five-game span. That includes a three-game sweep at the hands of Bowling Green (8-4, 46-34), whose league-best pitching staff held the Whitecaps to exactly one run in each game of the series.

The ‘Caps had early scoring opportunities again on Monday, but failed to capitalize on leadoff singles in each of the first three innings. West Michigan stranded nine men on base and went 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the ballgame. Over the course of the series, the Whitecaps were just 3-for-18 with runners in scoring position and left 27 men on base.

Starting pitcher Edgar De La Rosa (4-3) gave up three runs on seven hits over five innings to take the loss. He struck out four and walked one but committed a pair of balks that turned out to be significant plays.

The game was scoreless in the top of the third when De La Rosa's first balk advanced runners to second and third with one out. Moments later, Luke Maile highlighted his 3-for-5 day by ripping a two-run double inside the third base line to give Bowling Green a 2-0 advantage.

In the fifth, Leonardo Reginatto led off the frame with a single before moving to scoring position on De La Rosa's second balk. Tommy Coyle lined the very next pitch into right-center for a run-scoring single and a 3-0 lead.

The Hot Rods tacked on one more run in the sixth and two more in the seventh to double the lead to 6-0.

For the second straight day, Jeff Holm helped the Whitecaps avoid a shutout in the bottom of the eighth. David Gonzalez was hit by a pitch and stole second, where he was able to score on Holm's single up the middle to make it a 6-1 ballgame.

Taylor Guerrieri (6-2) earned the victory with six scoreless innings. The highly-touted Tampa Bay Rays' prospect extending his personal scoreless innings streak 22 innings and has not allowed a run since June 2. He scattered six hits and hit two batters, but induced a pair of groundball double plays and struck out three without issuing a walk.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from July 1, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central