Idrogo Dominant in 5-4 Loss
EASTLAKE, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps watched a two-run lead slip away in the ninth inning as Bobby Ison delivered a two-run walkoff single in a 5-4 loss to the Lake County Captains at Classic Park Tuesday night.
Lake County jumped out to a fifth inning lead on a solo home run by Bobby Ison, his second of the season to take a 1-0 lead. The 'Caps got their big break with runners on first and third base in the sixth when Brett Pirtle lined a ball at right fielder David Armendariz, who charged in on the baseball. In the process of charging the baseball, Armendariz' glove fell off his left hand. The ball then flew past Armendariz all the way to the wall allowing Leo Laffita and David Gonzalez to score on a two-run double to give West Michigan a 2-1 lead. Will Allen added an RBI-double later in the frame to extend the lead to 3-1. Armendariz began atoning for his mistake in the bottom of the inning with an RBI-triple to bring the 'Caps lead to 3-2. In the seventh, Cam Gibson blasted a mammoth home run to right-center field which traveled completely out of Classic Park to give the 'Caps a 4-2 lead. In the ninth, both Martin Cervenka and Armendariz began the inning with singles before reliever Ryan Milton committed a balk to advance both runners. After an infield RBI-single by Sam Haggerty cut the 'Caps lead to 4-3, Ison struck again with a two-run single past a diving Allen at first base to give Lake County a dramatic come-from-behind victory.
Meanwhile, starting pitcher Eudis Idrogo struck out nine Captains and tossed seven innings of two-run baseball, but failed to figure in the decision. Kieran Lovegrove (4-3) pitched a pair of scoreless innings in relief to pick up his fourth win of the season, while Milton (0-1) took his first loss by allowing the three batters he faced in the ninth to score. The Whitecaps fall to 61-55 overall and 22-27 in the second half. The Captains improve to 62-58 overall, and 22-28 in the second half standings. The Whitecaps have lost seven of their last eight games.
UP NEXT
Game three of this four game series between the Whitecaps and Lake County Captains takes place Wednesday afternoon from Classic Park at 1:00p.m. Pitcher Sand Baez takes the mound for the 'Caps against Captains pitcher Micah Miniard. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 12:50p.m. There are only six more Whitecaps home games at Fifth Third Ballpark during this regular season. Tickets can be reserved or any of the remaining 2016 home contests by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.