‘Caps Comeback Comes Up Short, 13-10
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — The West Michigan Whitecaps and Peoria Chiefs combined for 13 runs in extra innings, but the ‘Caps couldn’t win the race, falling to the Chiefs 13-10 in 11 innings in front of 7,787 fans Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark. Despite the Whitecaps collecting three home runs
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — The West Michigan Whitecaps and Peoria Chiefs combined for 13 runs in extra innings, but the ‘Caps couldn’t win the race, falling to the Chiefs 13-10 in 11 innings in front of 7,787 fans Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Despite the Whitecaps collecting three home runs and finishing 5-for-16 with runners in scoring position, Peoria’s offensive explosion was too much, as they added four home runs while finishing 6-for-11 with runners in scoring position in the win.
Peoria took the lead in the third inning as outfielder Tristan Bisetta collected a three-run homer before the ‘Caps responded in the sixth with a three-run home run from first baseman Cristian Santana, tying the game at three. The Whitecaps jumped in front with an RBI single from infielder Juan Hernandez in the seventh, but it was short-lived, as outfielder Brayden Smith sent a two-run homer over the left-field wall, putting Peoria in front 5-4. West Michigan leveled the game on an RBI single from outfielder Andrew Sojka, 5-5.
Both teams added two runs in the tenth inning as Chiefs infielder Cade McGee added the Chiefs’ third homer of the game, a two-run blast, before a pair of RBIs from Sojka and Carson Rucker tied the game again at seven. Then, Peoria had a six-run burst in the 11th – highlighted by a three-run home run from outfielder Caden Ferraro – taking a commanding 13-7 edge. The Whitecaps did respond with three runs in the bottom half as Bryce Rainer added a two-run homer before Ricardo Hurtado followed with a solo shot, but it was too little, as Chiefs reliever Gerardo Salas induced a groundout to slam the door on the 13-10 loss.
The Whitecaps fall to 32-27 in the second half and 56-67 overall, while the Chiefs improve to 28-30 in the second half and 60-64 overall. Whitecaps reliever Juanmi Vazquez (2-2) suffers his second loss, giving up six runs (four earned) through 1.1 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Salas (5-3) picks up his fifth win, allowing five runs (three earned) through two innings pitched. After the Great Lakes Loons defeated the Lansing Lugnuts 13-5 tonight, West Michigan now sits 3.5 games back of the Loons for first place in the Midwest League East Division standings with seven games left in the regular season.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps play their final home game of the 2026 regular season with a Sunday matinee at LMCU Ballpark, scheduled for 2pm. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:45 pm on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids, and online at WhitecapsBaseball.com.