MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Rally Again in 6-5 Win

August 23, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


The West Michigan Whitecaps pulled off a five-run comeback for the second time in three days, defeating the South Bend Cubs 6-5 Tuesday night at Four Winds Field.

In the early stages of Tuesday's contest, the Cubs began the night picking up where they left off the night before, having closed Monday's 8-2 win by scoring the last eight runs of the contest. Tuesday, they scored first five runs of the game to take a 5-0 lead. After scoring a run in the first, and three in the fourth featuring a two-run double by Adonis Paula, Midwest League MVP Eloy Jimenez launched his thirteenth home run of the season to give the Cubs a 5-0 lead. In the sixth, the 'Caps revived their offense with a four-run surge highlighted by Leo Laffita's run-scoring double to cut the West Michigan deficit to 5-4. An inning later, the Whitecaps struck for two more when Will Allen and Cam Gibson delivered game-tying and go-ahead singles to give the 'Caps a 6-5 lead. Zac Houston and Mark Ecker combined to toss 3.1 scoreless innings in relief allowing just one base hit, highlighted by Ecker inducing a game-ending ground out by Jimenez to finish the game and give West Michigan a 6-5 victory.

Houston (1-0) picked up the victory for the 'Caps, while Carson Sands (7-4) allowed all six Whitecaps runs in 1.2 difficult innings to pick up his fourth loss of the year. The Whitecaps record jumps to 65-58 overall and 26-30 in the second half. The Cubs record falls to 78-49 overall, and 37-21 in the second half standings. Will Allen paced the Whitecaps offense with four hits including a double and a walk in the contest, while Will Maddox recorded two base hits of his own to leap-frog Robert Fick (1997) and Nick Castellanos (2011) and claim second place in Whitecaps history for base hits in a season with 159. He currently sits five hits behind 2014 Whitecaps outfielder and former Midwest League MVP Wynton Bernard (164). West Michigan's victory marks the second time the team has erased a five-run deficit to post a victory in their last three games. The Whitecaps rallied back from a 7-2 score in the eighth inning to beat the Dayton Dragons last Sunday by a score of 8-7 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps play game three of this four-game series against the South Bend Cubs Wednesday night at 7:05p.m. Pitcher Fernando Perez gets the start for the 'Caps against Cubs right-hander Adbert Alzolay. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55p.m. There are only three more Whitecaps regular season home games at Fifth Third Ballpark in 2016. Tickets can be reserved or any of the remaining 2016 home contests by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 23, 2016


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