'Caps Lose Heartbreaker in 11
May 27, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
SOUTH BEND, IN - Chris Morel's run-scoring single in the eleventh inning dealt the West Michigan Whitecaps a heartbreaking 11-10 loss to the South Bend Cubs in 11 innings in front of a crowd of 5,080 fans on Sunday night at Four Winds Field.
The loss marks the fifth straight defeat for the Whitecaps - the third different five-game losing streak this season and marks the tenth loss in West Michigan's last 11 games. The "Caps had leads in both the tenth and eleventh innings, but their bullpen was unable to preserve either advantage.
RBI-singles by Tyler Durna and Delvin Zinn in the first and second innings respectively propelled South Bend to a 2-0 lead. The Whitecaps answered with a run-scoring double by Jose King in the third before the Cubs jumped out for three more runs in the fifth. An RBI-double by Andy Weber and a run-scoring single from Cole Roederer extended the Cubs lead to 5-1. Ulrich Bojarski sparked a rally in the sixth with a run-scoring double before Sam McMillan ripped a two-run single up-the-middle to bring in three runs and narrow the "Caps deficit to 5-4. After Chris Morel delivered what looked to be a Cubs insurance run with a double in the seventh to score Jonathan Sierra, the Whitecaps took advantage of a game-tying, two-out, two-run single to tie the ballgame at six.
In the tenth, the Whitecaps took the lead almost immediately, as McMillan lined a run-scoring single down the third-base line to score Bojarski and take a 7-6 lead. Later in the frame, and with runners at first and second with two outs, Rey Rivera's pop-up was dropped by Cubs third baseman Chris Morel, allowing McMillan to score. Wenceel Perez added an insurance run with a bloop single to score Parker Meadows and extend the "Caps lead to 9-6. In the bottom of the frame, Cubs pinch-hitter Gustavo Polanco ripped a game-tying two-run home run with two strikes to knot the game at 9-9.
After Bojarski lifted a sacrifice fly in the top of the eleventh, Whitecaps reliever Angel Reyes was given a second opportunity to preserve a victory for his team with a 10-9 edge. Reyes went on to surrender two singles and two walks, highlighted by Morel's game-winning single to punctuate the Cubs' multiple extra-inning rallies and give South Bend an 11-10 victory.
Cubs starting pitcher Derek Casey gave up four runs in five innings in taking a no-decision. Casey gave up eight hits and walked two but got critical outs in the victory. Gio Arriera took a no-decision, as his defense struggled behind him, committing three errors while tossing six innings and giving up five runs (three earned) while striking out six. Cubs reliever Zach Mort (2-2) earned the victory despite giving up four runs in two innings, while Reyes (0-2) blew his third save of the year and took his second loss. The Whitecaps record falls to 18-31 on the season, while the Cubs improve to 27-21. McMillan reached base five times while driving in three runs, while Meadows singled and doubled in a losing cause for West Michigan.
UP NEXT
This four-game series between the Whitecaps and South Bend Cubs concludes with a Memorial Day Monday afternoon contest at 2:05 pm. Whitecaps pitcher Chance Kirby gets the start for West Michigan against Cubs pitcher Cam Sanders for South Bend. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:55 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.
Midwest League Stories from May 27, 2019
- Hansen Continues Scoreless Inning Streak, Bandits Blank Wisconsin 5-0 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- River Bandits Shut Out Wisconsin - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lansing's Late Rally Sinks Captains - Lake County Captains
- Moreno Homer Helps Lugs Split, 5-4 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Longtime Clinton Fixtures Announce Partnership - Clinton LumberKings
- Bailey Jumps to 9th All-Time in MiLB Wins as Cubs Shutout Whitecaps 1-0 - South Bend Cubs
- Series Split Between Loons, TinCaps - Great Lakes Loons
- TinCaps Batter Loons for Second Straight Day - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Betts' Two Homers Lead 10-5 Comeback Win over Dayton - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Whitecaps Swept in South Bend - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Hot Rods Erase Early Five-Run Deficit to Defeat Dragons 10-5 on Monday Afternoon - Dayton Dragons
- Inclement Weather Postpones Cougars and Snappers - Kane County Cougars
- Game Postponed - Beloit Sky Carp
- Series Finale with Bees Rained Out - Clinton LumberKings
- Hot Rods Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Kernels and Chiefs Postponed - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs and Kernels Rained Out Monday - Peoria Chiefs
- Kody Funderburk joins Kernels; Blayne Enlow to Fort Myers - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- LumberKings Beat Bees 3-2 Despite Stellar Performance by Soriano - Burlington Bees
- TinCaps Game Notes: May 27 at Great Lakes (Game 48) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Wild Kane County 'pen gives Snappers extra-inning win - Beloit Sky Carp
- Cubs Win Walk-Off Thriller over Whitecaps 11-10 - South Bend Cubs
- Cougars Let One Slip in Extras - Kane County Cougars
- Baz K's Nine, Johnson Has Four Hits in 3-1 Victory - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- 'Caps Lose Heartbreaker in 11 - West Michigan Whitecaps
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
