West Michigan Whitecaps RHP Alfred Gutierrez is the Midwest League pitcher of the week. It is the second time he earned the honor this season. (Photo by Emily Jones/MiLB.com)

Lake County Captains outfielder Conner Capel and West Michigan Whitecaps RHP Alfred Gutierrez respectively were named the Midwest League offensive player and pitcher of the week for August 7-13.

Capel played in six games during that period, batting .444 (12-for-27) with one homer, one triple, one double, one walk, eight runs batted in, and six runs scored. The Cleveland Indians prospect is batting .243 with 19 HR, 52 RBI and 13 SB in 102 games with the Captains this season.

Capel previously was named the MWL offensive player of the week for the period of May 29 to June 4.

Gutierrez made one start during the last seven days, on Sunday. He struck out 11 batters (including the first seven he faced) while scattering three hits and two walks in seven innings against the Great Lakes Loons. The Detroit Tigers prospect is 9-6 with a 3.29 ERA, one save, 114 strikeouts and 18 walks in 112 innings (21 games/18 starts) this season.

Gutierrez previously was named the MWL pitcher of the week for the period of May 8-14.

Whitecaps win 80th game

The Sunday game started by Gutierrez was won by the Whitecaps, 6-1, giving West Michigan its 80th win of the season. The Whitecaps (80-35) are the first Minor League Baseball team to win that many games this season; the Los Angeles Dodgers (83-34) are the only Major League Baseball team with 80 or more wins.

The Midwest League record for wins during the regular season is 97 by the 1978 Appleton Foxes. The Whitecaps have 21 games left, so they can break the record if they lose only three more games before the season ends on Sept. 4. Their next four games are against the Dayton Dragons, who are 14-35 in the second half. Six games are against the South Bend Cubs, who are 23-26 in the second half. The rest of West Michigan’s games are against the Bowling Green Hot Rods and the Fort Wayne TinCaps, who are 30-19 and 32-17 in the second half, respectively. The Whitecaps are 35-13 in the second half.

The Whitecaps will go for their 81st win of the season tonight, with top Tigers prospect Matt Manning getting his second MWL start. His first start didn’t go too well, as he gave up four runs on three hits and three walks in 1.2 innings. Before his promotion to the Midwest League, however, he posted a 1.89 ERA with 36 strikeouts and 14 walks in 33.1 innings (nine starts) for the short-season Connecticut Tigers.