(Comstock Park, MI) - Brad Bass had the Lake County Captains (19-22) tied in knots on Friday night. The West Michigan Whitecaps' (21-19) right-hander no-hit the Captains over the first six frames before Austen Wade scratched across the first Captains know. Lake County fell to West Michigan in the series
(Comstock Park, MI) - Brad Bass had the Lake County Captains (19-22) tied in knots on Friday night. The West Michigan Whitecaps' (21-19) right-hander no-hit the Captains over the first six frames before Austen Wade scratched across the first Captains know. Lake County fell to West Michigan in the series opener at Fifth Third Ballpark, 7-2.
Bass walked three Captains in the first six innings, but the Captains' hits and runs columns remained blank. The right-hander worked around two two-out walks in the first and escaped a leadoff walk in the fourth when his pick-off caught Will Benson trying to swipe second. He also left a runner in scoring position in the sixth when Ernie Clement dropped down a bunt and Bass fired the throw high over first baseman Jordan Pearce. Bass pitched perfect frames in the second, third and fifth.
The Captains were already down by six runs when Wade ended the no-hitter. He singled to left to lead off the sixth inning and advanced to second when the ball rolled under Ignacio Valdez's glove. Nolan Jones followed with a single and Oscar Gonzalez put the Captains on the scoreboard with a single that plated Wade. Jose Vicente then singled to right to score Jones, but right fielder Dylan Rosa threw Gonzalez out at third. That hit knocked Bass out of the game, but he exited to applause from the Comstock Park, MI crowd after tossing 6.1 strong innings. The right-hander's final line of two runs on four hits, three strikeouts and three walks earned Bass (3-2) the victory.
West Michigan scored runs in the first and fourth against Captains starter Kirk McCarty . In the first, Alexis Garcia singled, moved to second on a passed ball and stole third before Rosa drove a double off the centerfield wall to bring the runner home. Rosa led off the fourth with a walk and later scored on a single by Reynaldo Rivera. The Whitecaps had a 2-0 lead after four, but they pulled away in the fifth.
With McCarty still on the hill, Cole Peterson and Garcia singled. Luke Burch then dropped down a bunt single to load the bases with just one out. McCarty nearly escaped the jam. The southpaw struck out Rosa for the second out, but Colby Bortles delivered. The Whitecaps' third baseman cleared the bases with a three-run double to the gap in right-center. Rivera then doubled home Bortles to give West Michigan a 7-0 lead.
McCarty (1-3) suffered the loss. The lefty pitched 4.2 innings and allowed six runs on nine hits. He struck out seven and walked one.
The Captains face the Whitecaps again on Saturday night in the second game of the three-game series and the second game of a seven-game road trip. First pitch for game two is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Information about Classic Park or the Captains can be found online at www.captainsbaseball.com and by phone at 440-954-<st1:stockticker w:st="on">WINS (9467). Affordable ticket packages and group party and picnic options are available now.
