MWL West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Fall in Front of High-A Record Crowd

Published on May 31, 2024 under Midwest League (MWL)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Despite a solid performance from the bullpen, the West Michigan Whitecaps offense fell silent as a late rally came up short in a 3-1 loss to the Great Lakes Loons in front of a season-high 9,041 fans Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.

The bullpen finished with seven strikeouts, allowing just one run through seven innings. However, the Caps couldn't string hits together, tallying just five hits while going 0-for-8 with runners in scoring position and leaving seven runners on base in the slim defeat. Friday's record attendance of 9,041 is the largest crowd at LMCU Ballpark since August 24, 2019, before the club moved up to the High-A Classification in 2021.

The Loons knocked Whitecaps starter Colin Fields out of the game in the second inning, driving in a pair of runs - featuring a pair of RBI singles from Yunior Garcia and Nelson Quiroz - before adding a tally in the third off a solo homer from center fielder Chris Newell, taking an early 3-0 lead. Great Lakes starter Jerming Rosario enjoyed a strong showing, going five scoreless innings with four punchouts before relievers Livan Reinoso and Brandon Neeck combined for two scoreless frames - carrying the 3-0 lead into the eighth. West Michigan finally broke through in the eighth as catcher Josh Crouch added a solo blast - his sixth of the season - trimming the lead to 3-1. West Michigan had runners on first and second base with just one out in the ninth inning when Peyton Graham was robbed of a potential game-altering swing by Loons left fielder Yunior Garcia before closer Lucas Wepf ended the inning with a punchout - taming the rally and earning the slim 3-1 win.

The Loons improve to 27-22 while the Whitecaps fall to 25-24. Rosario (1-0) picks up his first win of the season while Wepf secures his sixth save. Meanwhile, Fields (1-3) suffers his third loss, giving up two runs on four hits through two innings on the mound. Despite the defeat, the Whitecaps still sit just 3.5 games out of first place and are tied with the Lansing Lugnuts for third place in the Midwest League East Division standings.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps play the penultimate game of this six-game series against the Great Lakes Loons Saturday at 7:05 pm. Lefty Joe Miller gets the call for the Whitecaps against the Loons Peter Huebeck. To catch all the action, tune into the broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm on 106.1 FM ' The Ticket ' and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids. Don't miss out on the excitement; get your tickets for all 2024 home contests or listen to the games live at whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from May 31, 2024


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