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evin Ziomek continued the streak of quality starts for West Michigan pitchers as the Whitecaps defeated the Dayton Dragons Friday night by a final score of 3-2 at Fifth Third Ballpark.
The Whitecaps (38-22, 79-51) allowed a run for the first time since Tuesday – snapping a 26-inning streak which included back-to-back shutouts – but still had another solid team-pitching effort with 16 strikeouts and only allowing one earned run. The win against Dayton (28-32, 64-64) was the Whitecaps’ sixth win out of their last seven games.
Ziomek pitched well but did not end up recording a decision in the game. The 22-year-old lefty struck out 10 batters over six innings and allowed two runs – one earned – on six hits and one walk. The performance lowered Ziomek’s league-leading ERA to 2.23 and increased his league-leading strikeout total to 145 with his third double-digit strikeout game of the year.
Wynton Bernard and Jeff Holm provided early run support for Ziomek with the former hitting a sacrifice fly in the third and the latter hitting one in the fourth to give the ‘Caps a 2-0 lead.
Dayton rallied to tie the score in the sixth inning after two singles and a hit batsman loaded the bases with nobody out. Although Ziomek was able to strikeout Alex Blandino for the first out, he was unable to completely escape the jam.
Tanner Rahier drove in Dayton’s first run with a single before Jonathan Reynoso scored when catcher Arvicent Perez dropped a throw on a tag play.
The West Michigan bullpen pitched three perfect innings, allowing the Whitecaps to score the game-winning run in the bottom of the seventh.
Domingo Leyba started the rally with a one-out walk and a single by Bennett Pickar put runners on first and second. Francisco Contreras followed with a single up the middle to score Leyba, giving the Whitecaps a 3-2 lead.
Nate Fury (2-0) earned the win for the Whitecaps, throwing perfect innings in the seventh and eighth while striking out five of the six batters he faced. Zac Reininger (10) pitched a perfect ninth inning with one strikeout to earn the save. The 16 strikeouts for West Michigan tied a season-high for a nine-inning game.
Pedro Diaz (2-2) took the loss for Dayton, allowing one run on one hit in 1.1 innings of relief.
West Michigan will wrap up their final extended homestand of the regular season on Saturday night with a 7:00 p.m. game against the Dragons. RHP Artie Lewicki (2-2, 3.05) is scheduled to pitch for the Whitecaps against LHP Amir Garrett (7-7, 3.60) of Dayton.
