COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Catcher Dillon Dingler pounded a two-run home run as the West Michigan Whitecaps rode a dominant performance from their pitching staff to a 2-1 victory over the Lake County Captains Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps bullpen left a total of 10 Lake County baserunners stranded as Keider Montero, Zac Shepherd, Yaya Chentouf, and Zack Hess all combined to allow just one run on six strikeouts and just two free passes in the win.
The Whitecaps jumped out to a quick 2-0 lead in the fourth inning as Eric De La Rosa reached via an error before Dingler launched a two-run home run to forge the ‘Caps out in front 2-0. In the fifth inning, the Captains loaded the bases with just one out before Montero turned a rare inning-ending 1-2-3 double play to keep the ‘Caps lead at 2-0. The Captains scored their only run in the seventh, as José Tena ripped an RBI double. Still, it was too little too late as Chentouf set the Captains down in order to end the ninth and send West Michigan on to their fifth-straight victory.
Montero (1-3) enjoyed his longest professional start wielding five innings of shutout baseball while punching out five in the win. Captains starting pitcher, Tanner Burns (0-2), lasted five innings while allowing a pair of runs on three hits in his second defeat on the year. The Whitecaps improve to 12-9 on the season while the Captains fall to 11-11. With the victory, the Whitecaps are now tied with the Dayton Dragons for first place as the bullpen has allowed just four runs through their last 25 innings of work. Outfielder Daniel Cabrera led the way aside of Dingler’s home run with a 3-for-4 performance at the plate.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Captains play the penultimate game of this six-game series at LMCU Ballpark on Saturday at 6:35 pm. West Michigan sends Chavez Fernander to make a spot-start against Captains lefty Matt Turner. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm. A limited number of tickets are available for select Whitecaps 2021 home contests by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
