Whitecaps overpower Cubs in 10-5 win
SOUTH BEND, IN - Christin Stewart and Mike Gerber homered and combined to produce six runs as the West Michigan Whitecaps defeated the South Bend Cubs 10-5 Sunday at Four Winds Field.
After Zach Shepherd and Arvicent Perez drove in second-inning runs to give the 'Caps a 2-0 lead, Gerber sent the first pitch he saw from South Bend starter Trevor Clifton out of the ballpark for his seventh home run, pelting the Cubs Performance Center beyond the right field concourse to increase the lead to 4-0. Thompson's only blemish was giving up a two-run home run to Cubs centerfielder Rashad Crawford in the fifth, bringing the score to 6-2.
In the ninth, Gerber added a two-run triple to right-center, and Stewart launched a 2-2 pitch out of Four Winds Field as well, earning his first Whitecaps round-tripper and finishing the scoring for West Michigan. The home runs for Gerber and Stewart marks the second time West Michigan has hit two home runs in a game, and the first since April 21 at Great Lakes when Gerber and Giancarlo Brugnoni accomplished the feat.
Jeff Thompson (4-8) allowed two runs on five hits over six innings while striking out four in earning his fourth win of the season, while Trevor Clifton (3-8) left with an injury after allowing four runs over 2.1 innings in suffering his eighth loss of 2015. Rashad Brown and Stewart led West Michigan with three hits, while Crawford drove in four of the Cubs five runs. The Whitecaps record improves to 15-8 in the season's second half, bringing their overall record to 48-44. South Bend falls to 13-11 this half, with a combined record of 42-49.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps conclude this three-game series with the Cubs Monday at 1:05p.m. Pitcher Fernando Perez starts for the Whitecaps against Zach Hedges for the Cubs. Radio coverage with Dan Hasty begins at 12:55p.m. on 107.3 WBBL-FM, and the Whitecaps Baseball Network. A reminder 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.