‘Caps Chopped by Chiefs, 5-4
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — West Michigan Whitecaps starting pitcher and Detroit Tigers No. 7 prospect Ben Jacobs was outstanding as third baseman Carson Rucker added two home runs, but a late rally from the Peoria Chiefs made the difference in a 5-4 loss in front of 6,516 fans Wednesday night
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. — West Michigan Whitecaps starting pitcher and Detroit Tigers No. 7 prospect Ben Jacobs was outstanding as third baseman Carson Rucker added two home runs, but a late rally from the Peoria Chiefs made the difference in a 5-4 loss in front of 6,516 fans Wednesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Jacobs continued his dominant month of August, tossing five scoreless innings with seven strikeouts, dropping his ERA to 0.44 over his last four starts. Meanwhile, infielder Carson Rucker blasted two homers, but the rest of the offense struggled to get going, finishing 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position while striking out 15 times in the loss.
Peoria starting pitcher Ty Van Dyke collected 11 punchouts through five innings while giving up just one run on a passed ball in the bottom of the third, giving West Michigan a 1-0 lead. Jacobs departed after five shutout innings before the Chiefs broke through with a solo home run from catcher Cade McGee in the sixth, tying the game at one. Rucker delivered his first homer of the game in the seventh to put the ‘Caps in front, but it was short-lived, as a four-run rally from Peoria in the eighth, featuring a two-run home run from designated hitter Andrew Williamson, put them in front 5-2. The Whitecaps made a push over the final two innings as a wild pitch scored catcher Edian Espinal before Rucker’s second home run made it 5-4 in the ninth. That was as far as the ‘Caps rally would go, as Peoria closer Trey Pooser induced a groundout to end the game and send West Michigan to their fifth-straight loss.
The Whitecaps fall to 31-25 in the second half and 55-65 overall, while the Chiefs improve to 26-29 in the second half and 58-63 overall. West Michigan reliever Ryan Harvey (4-6) suffers his sixth loss, allowing four runs (three earned) through an inning pitched. Peoria reliever Rubén Menes (4-3) secures his fourth win, giving up two runs through two innings pitched, while Pooser collects his first save in the Midwest League. West Michigan's losing streak now stands at five-straight games, their longest such streak since May 24, when they lost five at home to the South Bend Cubs.
UP NEXT
West Michigan and Peoria continue this six-game series from LMCU Ballpark, Thursday night at 6:35pm. Pitchers Maddox Long and Brandon Clarke get the starts for West Michigan and Peoria. Broadcast coverage with Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids, and online at WhitecapsBaseball.com.