'Caps Drop Sunday Matinee

June 10, 2018

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps lost a late lead as the South Bend Cubs rallied as part of a 5-4 defeat Sunday afternoon in front of a disappointed crowd of 6,000 at Fifth Third Ballpark.
In contrast to two starting pitchers, the Cubs Javier Assad breezed through his first three innings of work, while Whitecaps starter Matt Manning labored early, throwing 32 pitches and surrendering two first-inning runs. The 'Caps finally responded in the fourth. Consecutive RBI hits from Brady Policelli and Darwin Alvarado created a 2-2 tie. An inning later the Whitecaps took their first lead of the day at 4-2 as a Jose Azocar single, and a run-scoring wild pitch ended the day for Assad. Whitecaps reliever Brandyn Sittinger inherited a 4-3 lead in the seventh inning but gave up a game-tying single to Michael Cruz in the eighth. In the ninth, Sittinger exited the game after walking the bases full. Felix Viloria entered the game, and on his first pitch, a passed ball committed by Policelli provided the go-ahead run for South Bend. The 5-4 lead held as the Whitecaps went down in order off Cubs reliever Jeffrey Passantino in the bottom of the ninth.
Manning earned a quality start for West Michigan, tossing six innings of six-hit, three-run baseball and striking out six. Sittinger (2-1), who will represent the Whitecaps in next week's Midwest League All-Star Game, suffered a disappointing loss, walking four and giving up two runs in 2.1 innings. Passantino (3-0) picked up the win for South Bend in relief. The Whitecaps managed only six hits all afternoon and fell to 32-31 on the year. The 'Caps loss represents the sixth overall in the last eight meetings with South Bend, who improve to 32-30 on the season. The Cubs move to 32-30 overall. The Whitecaps finish the day a half-game back of the Cubs for third place in the Eastern Division.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps conclude this series against South Bend Cubs on Monday at 7:05 pm. Detroit Tigers pitcher Jordan Zimmermann makes the start for the Whitecaps as part of a Major League rehab assignment against Cubs lefty Brendon Little. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 pm. 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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