'Caps Sweep Cubs in Comeback
July 31, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - For the second time in five games, the West Michigan Whitecaps rallied from a four-run deficit to beat the South Bend Cubs 6-5 in front of 7,244 fans Tuesday at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Brock Deatherage paced a balanced nine-hit Whitecaps attack with two hits, two RBI's and two stolen bases. Kody Clemens and Dylan Rosa joined the two-hit club on a night where early extra-base hits keyed the offense. The Cubs jumped out to a quick 4-0 lead in the opening frame on "Caps starter Dane Myers courtesy of five base hits. The "Caps responded with a pair of their own in the bottom half of the first featuring an RBI-double from Deatherage, then again in the second on a Dylan Rosa single to tie the game at four.
The next five innings showcased excellent pitching as both teams couldn't generate many base runners. In the eighth inning of a 4-4 tie, Clemens placed a perfect sacrifice bunt down the first base line to advance Brady Policelli into scoring position at second base. Deatherage then bounced a solid single up the middle, plating Policelli and giving the Whitecaps their first lead of the night at 5-4. Joey Morgan provided a big insurance run with a run-scoring infield single of his own to increase the lead to 6-4. South Bend tightened the score in the ninth with a run off reliever Billy Lescher, but the "Caps closed out their fifth straight victory.
Myers settled after that rough start, allowing four runs on seven hits but allowing only three base runners over his final five innings. Tarik Skubal (2-0) picked up the win, due in part to a huge inning-ending double play in the Cubs eighth. South Bend starter Erling Moreno (0-3) went 7.1 innings, giving up three earned runs and eight hits and absorbing the loss. The Whitecaps advance to 54-53 and have tied for the wildcard playoff spot in the Midwest League Eastern Division. South Bend falls to 51-56 and are now losers of six straight games. On July 27, West Michigan erased a 4-0 deficit when they beat the Lake County Captains in the final game of a three-game series 5-4, laying the groundwork for their five-game win streak.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps hit the road for a three-game series against the Great Lakes Loons beginning Wednesday at 7:05 pm. Whitecaps right-hander Elvin Rodriguez gets the start against the Loons Jeronimo Castro. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and former Central Michigan Head Coach Steve Jaksa begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55 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.
Midwest League Stories from July 31, 2018
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