COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Brady Policelli enjoyed a perfect night at the plate and provided a late-inning run-saving catch as the West Michigan Whitecaps rallied to take a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 8,456 fans Wednesday at Fifth Third Ballpark. Policelli, a native of Georgetown
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Brady Policelli enjoyed a perfect night at the plate and provided a late-inning run-saving catch as the West Michigan Whitecaps rallied to take a come-from-behind 7-6 win over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 8,456 fans Wednesday at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Policelli, a native of Georgetown DC, and Towson University product, contributed a double as part of a three-hit night in which the Whitecaps broke a three-game losing streak. The Lugnuts produced four runs through the first three innings off 'Caps starter Jesus Rodriguez, including a home run to Reggie Pruitt on the first pitch of the game. Lansing starter Maximo Castillo handcuffed the Whitecaps early on, only giving up a walk and a single to Policelli through the first four innings. In the 'Caps fifth inning trailing 4-0, the comeback began.
A Jordan Pearce sacrifice fly brought home the first Whitecaps run in the fifth. After Lansing countered with a run in the sixth inning, the 'Caps brought their deficit to 5-3 by countering with two runs via a Colby Bortles solo home run and a Luke Sherley run-scoring single. A diving run-saving snare by Policelli in the Lansing eighth helped prevent the big inning and keep the Lugnuts lead at 6-4. Kody Clemens slammed an RBI triple to highlight a three-run eighth and give the 'Caps their first lead at 7-6. Billy Lescher came on and closed out the game and completed the incredible comeback to win in the first game of a three-game series.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Jesus Rodriguez took a no-decision but pushed himself past a rough start to throw six innings, allowing five earned runs and striking out six. Endrys Briceno (3-1) pitched two innings for the Whitecaps and picked up the win, and Billy Lescher earned save number six on the year in one inning of relief. Matt Shannon (3-4) absorbed the loss in relief for Lansing after Castillo earned a quality start with six innings of two-run baseball and eight strikeouts. West Michigan moved to 25-26 in the second half and 61-60 overall, still holding on to a slim margin in securing a playoff position. Lansing falls to 29-23 and 72-50 in 2018. The win represents the 100th all-time victory for West Michigan over Lansing at Fifth Third Ballpark.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Lugnuts continue their three-game series Thursday from Fifth Third Ballpark at 7:05 pm. Brad Bass, the owner of a scoreless streak spanning his last four starts and 21.2 innings gets the start for West Michigan against Lansing righty Graham Spraker. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman starts 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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