The West Michigan Whitecaps won their eighth consecutive game Wednesday with a 3-0 shutout of the Great Lakes Loons.

The Whitecaps won despite striking out 16 times in the game, including nine times against Loons starter Victor Gonzalez. Only one player collected two hits — Whitecaps first baseman Will Allen, who singled and hit a solo homer. Whitecaps rightfielder Jose Azocar singled to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

West Michigan’s winning streak — the longest active one in Minor League Baseball — matches its franchise record set in August 2014. Surely of more importance to the Whitecaps, however, is the team’s move into a virtual tie with the South Bend Cubs atop the Midwest League Eastern Division standings. West Michigan has a 30-19 record (.612 winning percentage), while South Bend’s 6-2 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Wednesday dropped the Cubs’ record to 31-20 (.608 winning percentage).

The Lake County Captains are one game behind the Whitecaps and the Cubs. Lake County beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods 6-1 Wednesday, largely thanks to a seven-inning, one-hit performance by starting pitcher Thomas Pannone.

The Cedar Rapids Kernels lead the Western Division with a two-game lead over the Clinton LumberKings and the Peoria Chiefs.

Bees one-hit Cougars

The Bees one-hit the Cougars in Burlington’s 8-0 win at Kane County on Wednesday. Leadoff man Jason Morozowski was the only Cougars player who got a hit.

Bees centerfielder Jared Foster homered twice and drove in five runs. Catcher Webster Rivas reached base twice and drove in three runs for Burlington.

Burlington Bees CF Jared Foster (Photo by Craig Wieczorkiewicz/The Midwest League Traveler)