DAYTON, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps experienced numerous defensive struggles as part of a 7-5 loss to the Dayton Dragons Friday at Fifth Third Field. Due to a 5-4 loss by the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday night, the Whitecaps and TinCaps remain tied for the second-half wildcard with
DAYTON, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps experienced numerous defensive struggles as part of a 7-5 loss to the Dayton Dragons Friday at Fifth Third Field.
Due to a 5-4 loss by the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday night, the Whitecaps and TinCaps remain tied for the second-half wildcard with three games remaining. The two teams are scheduled to face off in a three-game series to end the regular season beginning on Saturday night. The winner of the series will earn the wildcard and a chance to face the Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League Playoffs beginning on September 5.
Defensive lapses plagued the 'Caps throughout the contest. West Michigan tied a season-high by committing six errors - three by catcher Joey Morgan. In the sixth, Morgan recorded his third error on a wild throw into center field while trying to catch J.D. Williams attempting to steal, leading to a pair of run-scoring singles by Downs and Jonathan India to take a 7-5 lead they never relinquished.
The Dragons took an early 3-0 lead in the first two innings on run-scoring singles by Jeter Downs and J.D. Williams. West Michigan fought back with a run in the third and a three-run fourth inning to take a 4-3 advantage. An RBI-double by Eric De La Rosa and Wenceel Perez ripped a two-run two-bagger of his own to give the 'Caps the lead. Single tallies by the Dragons in the fourth and fifth highlighted by a single from Leandro Santana gave the Dragons a 5-4 lead before Anthony Pereira launched a solo home run to tie the contest in the sixth.
Cory Thompson (6-6) earned his sixth victory of the season by tossing 2.2 innings in relief, while 'Caps reliever Johan Belisario (2-2) gave up three runs in two frames in taking his second loss of the season. Aneurys Zabala hurled a perfect ninth to record his third save with the Dragons. The Whitecaps fall to 31-35 in the second half and 67-69 in 2018, while the Dragons improve to 26-41 in the back half of this season, and 57-78 overall. John Valente, Perez and Jordan Pearce each logged two hits in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps return home for a three-game series with a trip to the 2018 Midwest League Playoffs on the line against the Fort Wayne TinCaps Saturday at 7:05 pm. The winner of this three-game series is likely to advance to the postseason. Pitcher Chance Kirby starts for West Michigan against TinCaps tosser Henry Henry. 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.
Box Score
