'Caps Sink in Lake County

August 18, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release

EASTLAKE, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps got in an early hole and never recovered as part of a 4-2 loss to the Lake County Captains on Saturday night at Classic Park, dropping the club out of a potential second-half playoff spot.

The Whitecaps entered Saturday holding one of the top two spots in the Midwest League's Eastern Division second-half playoff race but wins by Fort Wayne, and Great Lakes put the "Caps a half-game out of a playoff spot for the time being.

Lake County built an early lead against "Caps starter Carson Lance, getting run-scoring singles in the first and second innings by Will Benson and Richard Palacios to take a 2-0 lead. In the third, West Michigan scored their first run when Anthony Pereira crossed the plate on a groundout by West Michigan newcomer Wenceel Perez. In the bottom of the frame, Elvis Perez roped a two-run double to right field, extending the advantage to 4-1 Captains. Pereira drove in a run with a seventh-inning sacrifice fly to bring the West Michigan deficit to 4-2. Meanwhile, Lake County pitchers dominated, holding the Whitecaps offense quiet all evening, holding West Michigan two just two runs. The Whitecaps have totaled only 13 runs in their last eight games away from Fifth Third Ballpark.

Gregori Vasquez (6-6) tossed 5.2 effective innings of two-run baseball in picking up his fifth victory, while Lance (0-2) gave up four runs in just 4.2 frames in suffering his second defeat in as many appearances. Luis Jimenez tossed a scoreless 1.1 innings to record his first save of 2018. The Whitecaps fall to 62-62 overall and 26-28 in the second half standings. Lake County improves to 52-72 in 2018 and 23-31 in the second half. Dylan Rosa tripled and scored to highlight a "Caps offense that generated only four base hits - with three for extra bases in the defeat.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps continue this three-game series against the Lake County Captains Sunday at 7:00 pm. Chance Kirby takes the mound for the Whitecaps against Lake County lefty Francisco Perez. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 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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Midwest League Stories from August 18, 2018

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• Chiefs Use Big Inning to Beat Bandits - Peoria Chiefs
• Fateful Fourth Inning Costs Bandits in Series-Opener - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cougars bang out 21 hits in LumberKings loss - Clinton LumberKings
• Cougars Clobber Kings in Opener - Kane County Cougars
• TinCaps Match Longest Winning Streak of Season - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Mighty Wombats Fall to TinCaps, 3-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Benson Helps Captains Top Whitecaps - Lake County Captains
• Clark Delivers Another Walkoff Win for the Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Early Lead Flies away against Loons in Series Opener - South Bend Cubs
• Wisconsin Walks off in Series Opener - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Gritty Loons Grind Way into Playoff Picture - Great Lakes Loons
• 'Caps Sink in Lake County - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Orewiler, Two Relievers Pitch Dragons to 3-1 Win - Dayton Dragons
• First Inning Sinks Hot Rods in 3-1 Defeat - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Johan Quezada joins Kernels from Elizabethton - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Dragons Notes for Saturday - Dayton Dragons
• South Bend's Rally Comes up Short in Late Night Loss to TinCaps - South Bend Cubs
• TinCaps Beat Rain & South Bend - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Captains Escape with Nail-Biting Win - Lake County Captains
• 4 homers in 1st game win, Slam not enough in 2nd - Clinton LumberKings

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