Whitecaps drop first-half finale
SOUTH BEND, IN- The West Michigan Whitecaps watched starting pitcher Tommy Thorpe pitch five scoreless innings as they were defeated by the South Bend Cubs 5-1 Sunday at Four Winds Field.
The Cubs picked up all the offense they needed on one swing, as first baseman Jesse Hodges launched his fourth home run of the season; a two-run shot in the third inning to give South Bend a 2-0 lead. The Cubs would add another run later in the inning, and received a sacrifice fly from shortstop Gleyber Torres in both the fourth and sixth innings. The Whitecaps scored their only run when Rashad Brown scored following a leadoff sixth-inning triple on a Ross Kivett groundout.
Despite being used only as a reliever this season, Thorpe (2-4) was outstanding in his first start with five innings of scoreless baseball and five strikeouts without walking a batter. Jeff Thompson (2-7) struggled in giving up four runs in four innings to pick up his seventh loss. The Whitecaps finish the first half with a record of 33-36, while the Cubs improve to 29-38.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps open the second half of the 2015 season beginning with a four-game series against the rival Lansing Lugnuts Thursday at 7:05pm. Radio coverage with Dan Hasty begins at 6:55p.m. on the Whitecaps Baseball Network. Don't forget that season, group and individual tickets can be reserved for any 2015 home game by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.