COMSTOCK PARK, MI - In a series with Midwest League playoff implications, the West Michigan Whitecaps fell victim to an offensive surge by the Fort Wayne TinCaps and lost 10-3 Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.If West Michigan loses either of their last two games, Fort Wayne advances to the
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - In a series with Midwest League playoff implications, the West Michigan Whitecaps fell victim to an offensive surge by the Fort Wayne TinCaps and lost 10-3 Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
If West Michigan loses either of their last two games, Fort Wayne advances to the 2018 Midwest League Playoffs. 'Caps starter Chance Kirby, who wielded a seven-inning shutout performance in his last start against Great Lakes back on August 25th, could not figure out a TinCaps lineup in which every starter reached base. The 'Caps gave up the most runs in a game since a 10-6 loss to Lake County on July 9th.
Fort Wayne opened the scoring with back-to-back RBI singles from Gabriel Arias and Agustin Ruiz in the first inning and provided a 2-0 lead. In the bottom half of the opening frame, John Valente and Wenceel Perez manufactured Whitecaps singles. Jordan Pearce followed with a groundout, scoring Valente and cutting the deficit to 2-1. The TinCaps scored four more in the third, followed by four more through the next four innings and extended their lead to 10-1. The Whitecaps pushed across a run in the sixth after Perez grounded out, scoring Anthony Pereira who doubled earlier in the inning. In the ninth, Jordan Pearce and Colby Bortles produced consecutive doubles, as Pearce scored and delivered the final run of the game to make it 10-3, in the first game of the three-game series to close out 2018.
Kirby (0-2) took the loss, lasting only three innings, allowing six earned runs, seven hits and striking out three. Fort Wayne starter Henry Henry (1-1) pitched seven impressive innings, scattering only four hits, two unearned runs and walking just one Whitecap in the win. With the win, the 'Caps now need to win the final two games to qualify for the playoffs. The winner of this series faces Great Lakes in the Midwest League's first round.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this three-game series with a 2018 Midwest League Playoff appearance on the line against the Fort Wayne TinCaps Sunday at 6:00 pm. Pitcher Elvin Rodriguez returns to the mound after leaving his last start with an injury to start for West Michigan against TinCaps hurler and San Diego Padres 2018 first-round pick Ryan Weathers. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 5:50 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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