First Half Ends with Loss

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps took their first lead in the middle innings, but the South Bend Cubs scored late and snatched a 4-3 victory in front of a Father's Day crowd of 6,373 Sunday at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: Our final final score of the first half is brought to you by @MittenBrewingCo!We'll take a break, regroup, and see you all in the second half of the season!Go Whitecaps! 🧢🌊 pic.twitter.com/rHKqbtWE1J
The sluggish Whitecaps offense came to life in the sixth inning by scoring three times and taking their only lead of the day at 3-2, but South Bend responded in their seventh with two runs and a 4-3 lead they never relinquished.
West Michigan starter Chance Kirby settled down after surrendering three hits and two first-inning runs. Kirby scattered only two hits and no walk in his last four innings and kept the 'Caps in the contest. Meanwhile, West Michigan's offense struggled against South Bend starter Peyton Remy, mustering only two hits through the first five innings. With the Cubs in the lead 2-0 in the sixth, the 'Caps loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Chris Proctor followed with an infield grounder, but after the throw to home completed a force out, South Bend catcher Gustavo Polanco's throw to first base sailed over the head of Tyler Durna and two 'Caps runs crossed the plate to tie the game at two. The next batter, All-Star Ulrich Bojarski, followed with a ground ball to second and the throw to home skipped off Polanco's glove, scoring Proctor from third base and giving West Michigan their first lead at 3-2. The lead was short-lived as the Cubs came right back with two runs in the seventh inning off 'Caps reliever Drew Crosby and took the 4-3 lead. Wenceel Perez and Parker Meadows each tallied base hits in the last two innings but were stranded on the base paths as the Whitecaps could not overcome the deficit and enabled South Bend to sweep the weather-shortened two-game series.
Crosby (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up three hits and two runs in a third of an inning of work. Kirby struck out five and scattered five hits and two runs in his sixth start of 2019 for West Michigan. Jake Patterson (3-1) picked up the win in relief for the Cubs, tossing a perfect inning and recording two strikeouts. On a day where Whitecaps offense struggled with only six hits, Vinnie Esposito enjoyed his first multi-hit game of the season with two singles. Whitecaps batters went 0-7 with runners in scoring position. With the loss, the Whitecaps finish the first half standings at 21-48, their worst half-season record in franchise history. South Bend closes out the first half with a four-game winning streak and a record of 37-31.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps open the 2019 second half with a four-game series in Ohio against the Lake County Captains Thursday at 7:00 pm from Classic Park. Whitecaps pitcher Adam Wolf is scheduled to get the start for West Michigan. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2019 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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