COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps defeated the Lansing Lugnuts 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep in front of 5,215 fans Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark.Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: CAPS WIN!!Whitecaps sweep the @LansingLugnuts and have a perfect 4-0 record to start 2nd half! #CrushtheNuts #wcaps pic.twitter.com/OBu132hQZNBoth teams
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps defeated the Lansing Lugnuts 5-2 to complete a four-game sweep in front of 5,215 fans Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Both teams exchanged solo home runs in the first inning. Lansing's Edward Olivares bombed his long ball high over the left field fence and Josh Lester placed his ninth home run of 2017 out to right-center field for the 'Caps. Both Lansing starter Adam Ravel and Whitecaps starter Spenser Watkins settled in to pitch brilliant baseball, sending the contest to the seventh with a 1-1 tie. 'Caps catcher Drew Longley broke the deadlock in the seventh by lifting a deep fly ball double into right field and bringing home Cole Bauml who singled earlier. An inning later, Watkins gave up a leadoff single by Lansing shortstop Bo Bichette, John Schreiber came on in relief for the Whitecaps in the eighth inning. A single and a walk loaded the bases before J.B. Woodman managed another walk to bring home a run to tie the score at 2-2.
Schreiber struck out Andres Sortillo to end the threat. West Michigan responded in the eighth inning as singles by Chad Sedio, David Gonzalez and Anthony Pereira loaded the bases off Ravel, who exited the contest. Josh Lester greeted Lugnuts reliever Dan Lietz with a slow rolling grounder to first baseman Christian Williams, who stepped on first base for the out and his ensuing throw home proved late, allowing Sedio to score the go-ahead run, as the 'Caps took a 3-2 lead. Austin Athmann saved his lone hit of the day to close out the three-run inning by placing a grounder through the infield into right field and enabling two more runs to score. With the 'Caps leading 5-2, Schreiber finished strong by retiring the Lugnuts in order in the final inning, gained the victory in 1.2 innings of work and completed the four-game series sweep for West Michigan.
The late inning heroics provided the 'Caps their season best eighth win in a row and improved the overall record to a phenomenal 49-22, and a 4-0 second half record. Schreiber (3-1) won for the second straight time and Ravel (4-2) took the loss for Lansing who fell to 37-33 and now have lost six straight games. West Michigan improved to 8-1 overall vs. Lansing in 2017, including wins in the last six straight. Watkins posted impressive numbers in his start for West Michigan by pitching 7.1 innings, scattering seven hits, allowing only two runs and striking out four. Pereira, Bauml and Longley paced the 'Caps ten hit attack with two hits each, with Lester matching Athmann's two RBI performance.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps bring the Dayton Dragons to town for a four-game series beginning Monday night at 7:00p.m. Pitcher Tom de Blok gets the start for West Michigan against Dayton All-Star right-hander Tony Santillan. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any Whitecaps 2017 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
