'Caps eliminated from playoffs with Game 3 loss
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps' banner 2014 season came to an end on Friday night, culminating with a 6-2 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the decisive third game of their opening-round playoff series at Fifth Third Ballpark.
The memorable campaign began with a devastating ballpark fire in early January, continued with an emotional home-opener and the 50th annual Midwest League All-Star Classic, and was highlighted by West Michigan's (1-2, 82-58) first division title in seven years. On Friday, it ended with a Game 3 loss to Fort Wayne (2-1, 63-76), who will move on to face the Lake County Captains in the MWL-East championship series.
Friday's drama got off to a false start on a rainy evening in West Michigan. For a time, it was unclear whether the Whitecaps and TinCaps would even be able to play. But, after the one-hour and 44-minute rain delay eventually ended, Fort Wayne came out swinging and seized control from the outset.
During a rainy top of the first, Trea Turner led off the ballgame with a triple to the warning track in center field and Ronnie Richardson singled him home on the very next pitch. Franmil Reyes singled to put runners at the corners, and later in the inning was on the run with two outs as Fort Wayne attempted a double steal. Catcher Bennett Pickar fired to second, but the slick ball sailed into center field, allowing Richardson to steal home for a 2-0 lead.
Things got worse before they got better.
A walk, an error and a sacrifice fly led to an unearned run in the third as Fort Wayne added to their lead. In the fourth, John Nester slugged a solo home run to straightaway center field. Nick Schulz clubbed a double into the left-center field gap on the next pitch, chasing Whitecaps' starter Jonathon Crawford from the game and later scoring on a double by Josh VanMeter for a 5-0 cushion.
Meanwhile, TinCaps' ace Kyle Lloyd (1-0) was dealing on the mound. The 23-year-old righty struck out seven without issuing a walk over five strong innings, allowing just one run on three hits. After giving up a single to the first batter he faced, Lloyd set down 12 straight Whitecaps before West Michigan finally broke through in the fifth.
And, for a moment, it looked the 'Caps had a rally in them. Jeff Holm led off with a single and Dominic Ficociello doubled him to third, putting two runners in scoring position with nobody out. But Lloyd was able to minimize the damage, allowing just a run-scoring groundout by Pickar and emerging from the threat with a 5-1 lead.
The Fort Wayne bullpen did the rest. Nick Mutz allowed one unearned run over two innings, Eric Yardley worked around a two-out error for a scoreless eighth, and closer Ryan Butler blew through a 1-2-3 ninth inning to send the TinCaps to the Eastern Division championship series.
Crawford (0-1) took the loss for West Michigan, surrendering five runs - four earned - on five hits over 3.1 innings.
Click here to view the box score.