COMSTOCK PARK, MI - A bases-loaded situation with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth for the West Michigan Whitecaps did not result in runs as the Beloit Snappers hung on for a tight 4-3 victory Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark in front of 6,852 fans.Tweet from @wmwhitecaps:
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - A bases-loaded situation with nobody out in the bottom of the ninth for the West Michigan Whitecaps did not result in runs as the Beloit Snappers hung on for a tight 4-3 victory Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark in front of 6,852 fans.
The Whitecaps found no answers in the early going against Beloit's crafty starter Mitchell Jordan, who surrendered only two singles through the first five innings. Meanwhile, Tom de Blok, the 'Caps starter, didn't allow a hit until the fifth inning, but that one hit, an RBI-single sandwiched around three walks gave Beloit a 1-0 lead. Beloit added two more as a crucial Whitecaps fielding error by Jordan Pearce extended the lead to 3-0. In the sixth Brady Policelli, who earlier increased his career-best hitting streak to twelve games, snuck a two-run home run over the left field fence to cut the margin to 3-2. For Policelli it represented his second homer in as many nights. A two-out double by Kody Clemens in the eight enabled Brock Deatherage to deliver a game-tying single and knot the score at three.
Clate Schmidt (6-2), who spelled Felix Viloria in the sixth inning for the Whitecaps, deserved better but took the loss as he racked up five strikeouts in 3.1 innings. However, consecutive base hits in the top half of the ninth pushed a run across the plate and gave Beloit the lead once again at 4-3. After loading the bases with no one out in the bottom of the ninth due in part to singles by Rey Rivera and Pearce, the Whitecaps were in a position to steal a win. Snappers reliever Jaimito Lebron shut down the Whitecaps, inducing a pop up out, a strikeout and a groundout to close out the 4-3 Beloit victory. The one run contest was the fourth straight one-run ballgame in the Whitecaps homestand. Beloit's Josh Reagan (3-3) who gave up a run and three hits in recording only one out picked up the win and Lebron earned his first save of 2018. The 'Caps lost despite outhitting Beloit, ten to five. West Michigan dipped below the .500 mark to 11-12 in the second half and 47-46 overall. Beloit has won nine of their last ten and moved to 46-44 in 2018 and 14-7 in the second half standings.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue their three-game weekend wrap-around series with the Beloit Snappers Sunday at 2:00 pm. Pitcher Wilkel Hernandez starts on the mound for the Whitecaps against Jared Poche for the Snappers. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:50 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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