DAYTON, OH – The West Michigan Whitecaps gave up six first-inning runs, rallied, and then gave up three eighth-inning runs as part of a 10-8 loss to the Dayton Dragons on Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark.
The defeat marks the sixth straight loss for the Whitecaps – their longest losing streak in the 2021 season. The team now holds a record of 25-30, the most games they’ve been under the .500 mark this season.
The six first Dragons hitters reached base successfully in a first-inning highlighted by run-scoring singles from Quin Cotton, Victor Ruiz, and Michael Siani. Mariel Bautista followed with a two-run triple into the right-centerfield gap to cap off a six-run opening frame. In the second, the Whitecaps collected one of their biggest single innings of their 12-game road trip, as Wenceel Perez and Parker Meadows picked up RBI-singles before a sacrifice fly from Rey Rivera cut the deficit in half to 6-3 in favor of Dayton. Victor Ruiz added an RBI-double in the second to extend the Dragons lead to 7-3. Gage Workman enjoyed his first home run with the Whitecaps in the fifth – a two-run shot to trim the deficit to 7-5. After tying the game in the sixth, Daniel Cabrera scored on a wild pitch to help West Michigan take an 8-7 lead – their first advantage in any game of the series. In the eighth, Miguel Hernandez capped a 10-pitch at-bat with a go-ahead two-run single to retake the lead on their way to their third straight win of the series.
Dragons pitcher Braxton Roxby (2-2) tossed 2.2 scoreless innings to earn his second win, while Bryce Tassin (1-4) gave up the deciding runs in suffering his fourth loss of the year. The Whitecaps fall to 25-30 on the season as Dayton improves to 33-23. The game lasted 4:12, marking the longest ballgame for the Whitecaps this season and the longest nine-inning contest in Dayton Dragons franchise history.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue their six-game series against the first-place Dayton Dragons on Friday at 7:05pm. West Michigan sends pitcher Beau Brieske to the mound against Dragons righty Eduardo Salazar. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50pm. Get your tickets for all 2021 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
