Whitecaps Use Four Extra- Base Hits to Sneak by Captains 6-5

Whitecaps Use Four Extra- Base Hits to Sneak by Captains 6-5
 (Eastlake, OH) - The West Michigan Whitecaps (17-32, 38-80) blasted two home runs and back-to-back triples in route to the one-run, 6-5 victory over the Lake County Captains (25-24, 65-53) on Sunday Night at Classic Park.
The Whitecaps got on the board first, in the top of the second inning, Andre Lipcius connected with his second home run on the season, and West Michigan led 1-0. The Whitecaps tacked on three more in the top of the third inning highlighted by another home run, this time it was Pryant Packard who circled the bases for his third homer of the season. The score was 4-0 West Michigan.
The Captains responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth inning. With a runner on first base, Miguel Jerez blasted his tenth homerun of the season to cut the lead in half at 4-2. The next batter, Josh Rolette, hit his first homerun of the season and the lead was trimmed to one run at 4-3 Whitecaps.
West Michigan used back-to-back triples to add an insurance run in the top of the fifth inning. The first three-bagger was hit by Parker Meadows, and the second one, hit by Riley Greene, chased Captains starter Zach Draper from the game. The Whitecaps led 5-3 after five innings. The Captains scored a run in the bottom of the sixth inning on a wild pitch to make the score 5-4.
The Whitecaps tacked on another insurance run in the top of the eighth inning when Greene, who was hit by a pitch came around to score on an RBI single by Lipcius, the score was 6-4 headed to the bottom of the eighth inning. In the bottom half of the inning, Bo Naylor hit his tenth homerun of the season to get the Captains back to within one, but the late rally was not enough as the final score was 6-5 West Michigan.
Lake County started Zach Draper (7-3, 3.08) who took the loss. Draper tossed four and two thirds innings and allowed five earned runs on seven hits with one walk and four strikeouts. Draper allowed two homeruns. Luis Valdez pitched two and one third scoreless innings in relief while striking out two. Skyler Arias pitched the final two frames for the Captains, and allowed one earned run on one hit, with two walks and three strikeouts.
West Michigan gave the ball to Brad Bass (4-3) who earned the win. Bass pitched six and one third innings and allowed four earned runs on five hits, he walked three and struck out five. Bass allowed two home runs. Chance Kirby earned the save after pitching two and two thirds innings in relief. Kirby surrendered one earned run on one hit and struck out four.
The Captains and Whitecaps will play the rubber game of the three-game series on Monday. Lake County is expected to start LHP Matt Turner (2-1, 2.29) while West Michigan will counter with RHP Wilkel Hernandez (7-6, 3.74.) First pitch for Monday's game is scheduled for 7:00 PM.
The Captains have affordable ticket packages and group outings are available for purchase now and more information may be found at www.CaptainsBaseball.com or by calling 440-954-WINS (9467).