TinCaps lose to Whitecaps, 7-3

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - The TinCaps fell behind early and never fully recovered in a 7-3 loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps, Monday at Fifth Third Ballpark. Chris Bisson and Wes Cunningham had two hits each.

West Michigan jumped ahead in the bottom of the first. Back-to-back singles to start the inning followed by a wild pitch put two in scoring position with nobody out. Rob Brantly drove in a run with a groundout, then Billy Nowlin singled to center to make it 2-0.

In the third inning, Nowlin drilled a two-run homer to left to push the Whitecaps' lead to 4-0.

The TinCaps came back in the game's middle stages. In the fourth, Oscar Garcia lifted a sacrifice fly to right to put Fort Wayne on the board. Jose Dore followed with an RBI double to left-center to cut it to a 4-2 margin.

In the fifth, Bisson singled to left-center and stole second. Two batters later, Cunningham ripped an RBI single to center to make it a 4-3 game.

That was as close as the TinCaps would get. West Michigan scored a run in the bottom of the fifth and two more in the seventh to blow it open. The Whitecaps pounded out 13 hits.

West Michigan RHP Jeff Ferrell (1-0) was the winning pitcher; Fort Wayne LHP Andrew Werner (1-1) took the loss.

The TinCaps dropped to 6-6; the Whitecaps upped their record to 5-3.

The TinCaps and Whitecaps (Class-A Detroit Tigers) continue the three-game series Tuesday at 6:35 p.m. Fort Wayne RHP Keyvius Sampson (2-0) is opposed by Whitecaps LHP Antonio Cruz (0-1).