[dropcap]T[/dropcap]hree Whitecaps’ pitchers combined for a four-hit shutout as they defeated the Dayton Dragons by a final score of 2-0 at Fifth Third Field in Dayton, Ohio.
With their fifth shutout of the year, West Michigan (13-9, 54-38) improved to 5-3 on their current 10-game road trip, including back-to-back wins against Dayton (10-12, 46-44).
Saturday’s game was truly a pitcher’s duel, as neither team allowed a single earned run, and both teams combined for 24 strikeouts without allowing a single extra-base hit.
The difference in the game was defense. West Michigan turned three double plays – increasing their league-leading total to 75 – and got two incredible diving plays in the late innings to preserve the lead. Dayton committed three errors which allowed both of West Michigan’s runs to score.
Austin Kubitza (8-1) pitched five scoreless innings while striking out six batters. All three double plays were turned behind Kubitza, who was able to prevent Dayton from having any solid contact all game. He would allow just four singles and three walks during the game.
For as good as Kubitza was, the West Michigan bullpen was just as good.
Scott Sitz worked a season-high three innings and struck out three batters without allowing a single baserunner. Francisco Contreras made a great diving play to prevent a hit on a groundball in the seventh inning, and left fielder Raph Rhymes made a diving catch near the foul line in the bottom of the eight.
Julio Felix (7) hit the first batter he faced in the ninth before retiring the next three batters he faced.
Both Whitecaps’ runs were created by Austin Schotts, who reached base to start off the third and eight innings despite batting ninth in the lineup. In the third inning, Schotts walked to start the inning and then stole second. Two outs later, he scored on a groundball to short that Carlton Daal made an errant throw on.
In the eight inning, Schotts led off with a single that started a rally that included a fielding error and a bunt-single which loaded the bases with nobody out. Dayton’s Alejandro Chacin limited the damage, but Schotts eventually scored on a double play ball by Rhymes, giving West Michigan a 2-0 lead.
Dan Langfield (2-1) took the hard-luck loss for Dayton, as he struck out seven batters and allowed just two singles and one unearned run while walking three.
The Whitecaps continue their 10-game road trip on Sunday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch against the Dayton Dragons. RHP Jon Maciel (4-3, 3.26) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Nick Travieso (7-4, 3.72) of the Dragons.
