Whitecaps Drop First Home Game of '23
Published on April 18, 2023 under Midwest League (MWL)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps struggled to get their offense firing as part of their first home loss of the 2023 season by dropping the first game of their six-game set with the Dayton Dragons by a score of 5-0 on a chilly Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The loss marks the first shutout defeat of the season for West Michigan, which came on a night when the first-pitch temperature was 45 degrees. The 'Caps managed only one extra-base hit and went 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position.
After a pair of scoreless frames, Dayton finally plated their first runs in the third when Top-100 MLB Prospect Edwin Arroyo - activated from the Injured List earlier in the day - roped a run-scoring single to help the Dragons take a 1-0 lead. Later in the frame, Austin Callahan, who had started the season in a 1-for-25 slump, delivered his second hit of the year in the form of a two-run single to extend the edge to 3-0. The score remained the same until 'Caps outfielder Roberto Campos lost track of a fly ball, leading to an error on left fielder Austin Murr which allowed two Dragons runs to cross the plate and end the scoring in the contest.
The Whitecaps fall a half-game out of first place behind Lansing at 6-4, while the Dragons improve to 4-6. Dayton starting pitcher Hunter Parks (1-1) tossed five scoreless frames to earn his first win of 2023, while West Michigan hurler Wilkel Hernandez (0-1) failed to finish the third inning despite striking out five in suffering his first loss of the year. West Michigan's lineup featured a former Major Leaguer on a Minor League Rehab Assignment in Steele Walker, who played five games for the Texas Rangers last season. Walker went 0-for-2 with a strikeout before exiting the game in the sixth. Outfielder Ben Malgeri, who was crowned the Midwest League Player of the Week on Monday, went 0-for-4 in his first hitless game of the season.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series at LMCU Ballpark against the Dayton Dragons with a Wednesday matinee game at 12:05 pm. Lefty Carlos Pena makes a start for the 'Caps against Dragons righty Carson Rudd. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 11:50 am. Get your tickets for all 2023 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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