COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps bullpen fell on hard times as part of a 7-3 loss to the Lake County Captains in front of 6,991 fans Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps finished 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, collecting just five hits while leaving nine
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps bullpen fell on hard times as part of a 7-3 loss to the Lake County Captains in front of 6,991 fans Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps finished 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position, collecting just five hits while leaving nine runners on base. Meanwhile, a throwing error and two wild pitches led to three Captains runs en route to the defeat. The ‘Caps bullpen allowed four runs in the final two innings to break a 3-3 tie.
Lake County scored first in the third inning as Petey Halpin roped an RBI single before a throwing error and a wild pitch allowed two more runs to cross, delivering the Captains a 3-0 lead. West Michigan responded in the bottom half, as Trei Cruz pounded a two-run single before Austin Murr leveled the game with an RBI, 3-3. Neither team managed a run through the middle four innings as Halpin cracked a ground-rule double to lead off the eighth inning before Gabriel Rodriguez plated him to forge Lake County in front 4-3. The Captains added three insurance runs in the ninth inning – highlighted by a two-run double from Alexfri Planez – increasing the lead to 7-3. Jake Holton added a single in the ninth, but it was too late as Captains closer, Trey Benton, slammed the door to secure the 7-3 victory.
Lake County reliever Davis Sharpe (5-1) collected his fifth victory, going three shutout innings with three strikeouts, as ‘Caps reliever Chavez Fernander (2-3) suffered his third loss, allowing a run through one inning. The Captains and Whitecaps are now tied for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division second-half race, with the Whitecaps holding the tiebreaker. The Captains improve to 62-47 overall and 27-16 in the second half. The Whitecaps fall to 59-52 overall and 28-17 in the second half.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps play the Friday version of this six-game series against the Lake County Captains from LMCU Ballpark at 6:35 pm. Righties Carlos Guzman and Tommy Mace get the starts for West Michigan and Lakeland respectively. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm. Get your tickets for all 2022 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.