Whitecaps Fall in Ten, 7-6
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps scored five runs through the first two innings, but the bullpen couldn’t close the deal as the Fort Wayne TinCaps rallied in a 7-6 Mother’s Day loss in ten innings in front of 5,254 fans Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. ‘Caps pitchers
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps scored five runs through the first two innings, but the bullpen couldn’t close the deal as the Fort Wayne TinCaps rallied in a 7-6 Mother’s Day loss in ten innings in front of 5,254 fans Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
‘Caps pitchers gave up a season-high 11 walks in the contest – allowing six runs through the seventh and eighth frames as the offense fell silent – generating only two hits past the second inning while leaving 11 runners on base and finishing 4-for-15 with runners in scoring position in the narrow defeat.
The ‘Caps began with a boom, plating five combined runs through the first and second frames – featuring an RBI double from Max Anderson and a two-run double from Roberto Campos – taking a commanding 5-0 lead. Meanwhile, Whitecaps starter Dylan Smith worked around six walks by posting four scoreless innings before reliever Jack Anderson added two scoreless frames with three strikeouts – maintaining the ‘Caps 5-0 advantage going into the seventh.
Fort Wayne started their comeback push in the top of the seventh, as center fielder Homer Bush Jr. plated a pair with a line drive single into center field before Fort Wayne tallied an additional four runs in the eighth – highlighted by a two-run single from Bush Jr. – forging the TinCaps in front 6-5. In the bottom of the ninth, Luke Gold added his seventh home run of the season and second of the series – a solo blast that cleared the center field wall – leveling the game at 6-6. In the tenth, TinCaps left fielder Colton Vincent delivered a tie-breaking sacrifice fly, but the ‘Caps couldn’t respond, as center fielder Seth Stephenson lined out to third base to end the Whitecaps hopes at a comeback.
The TinCaps improve to 12-21 while the Whitecaps fall to 15-18. TinCaps reliever Ryan Och (1-0) gets his first win of the year, allowing one run through two innings with five punchouts, while Mitchell Miller earns his first save, posting a scoreless tenth. Whitecaps reliever Marco Jimenez (0-1) suffers his first loss, giving up the go-ahead run in the tenth. The 11 walks allowed by Whitecaps pitching is the most in a single game since they allowed ten free passes in a 5-2 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits back on April 14.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps hit the road for their longest trip of the season, with 12 games away from LMCU Ballpark beginning with a six-game set with the Peoria Chiefs from Dozer Park starting Tuesday at 12:05pm. Pitchers for the contest are still to be determined. Don’t miss the action; tune into broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 11:50 am on 106.1 FM ‘The Ticket’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids. Get tickets for all 2024 home contests or listen to games live at whitecapsbaseball.com.