COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps tried mightily to rally from a five-run deficit and pushed across an eighth-inning run to tie the game, but the rally fell short in extra innings in an 8-7 defeat by the hands of the Clinton LumberKings Monday night at Fifth Third
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps tried mightily to rally from a five-run deficit and pushed across an eighth-inning run to tie the game, but the rally fell short in extra innings in an 8-7 defeat by the hands of the Clinton LumberKings Monday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
A big four-run tally by Clinton chase 'Caps starter Garrett King out of the game in the fifth inning as the LumberKings pushed their advantage to 5-1 before the Whitecaps Joey Morgan made it a 5-2 game with his 2nd home run of 2018 - a no-doubter down the left field line, in the fifth. Two more Clinton runs in the sixth made the score 7-2 before the 'Caps rallied. Two runs in the Whitecaps sixth on RBI-singles by Zac Shepherd and Jordan Pearce followed by a run-scoring wild pitch, and a Dylan Rosa run-scoring single in the following inning brought the score to 7-6. In the eighth inning, Ignacio Valdez brought the game to 7-7 with a single to score Garrett McCain from second base to send the game to extra innings.
Clinton managed an RBI-single off 'Caps reliever Max Green in the tenth inning to take the 8-7 lead, but West Michigan put two runners on second and third base with only one out after a sacrifice bunt by Morgan. Clinton reliever Kyle Wilcox bore down and struck out Valdez followed by Alexis Garcia to steal the home team's comeback effort. Green (0-1) took the loss for the 'Caps in two innings of work. King pitched four innings in his fifth start of the year for the Whitecaps who took the loss despite almost doubling up Clinton in the hit department with fifteen. Wilcox (1-0) picked up the win for the LumberKings who remained in first in the Midwest league's Western Division with the victory with their 16-11 record. West Michigan fell to 17-13. Despite the loss, Cole Peterson and Rosa enjoyed three-hit nights as every starter for West Michigan recorded a base hit. The 'Caps left a season-high 18 runners on the basepaths.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this three-game series against the Clinton LumberKings Tuesday at 7:05 pm. Pitcher Elvin Rodriguez starts for the Whitecaps against Clinton lefty Ray Kerr. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 p.m. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2018 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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