First Half Ends with Loss
June 16, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps took their first lead in the middle innings, but the South Bend Cubs scored late to snatch a 4-3 victory in front of a Father's Day crowd of 6,373 Sunday at Fifth Third Ballpark.
The sluggish Whitecaps offense came to life in the sixth inning by scoring three times and taking their only lead of the day at 3-2, but South Bend responded in their seventh with two runs and a 4-3 lead they never relinquished.
West Michigan starter Chance Kirby settled down after surrendering three hits and two first-inning runs. Kirby scattered only two hits in his last four scoreless innings and kept the "Caps in the contest. Meanwhile, West Michigan's offense struggled against South Bend starter Peyton Remy, mustering only two hits through the first five frames. With the Cubs in the lead 2-0 in the sixth, the "Caps loaded the bases on a pair of singles and a walk. Chris Proctor followed with an infield grounder, but after the throw to home completed a force out, South Bend catcher Gustavo Polanco's throw to first sailed away from Tyler Durna and two "Caps runs crossed the plate to tie the game at two. The next batter, All-Star Ulrich Bojarski, followed with a ground ball to second and the throw to home skipped off Polanco's glove, scoring Proctor from third base and giving West Michigan their first lead at 3-2. The lead was short-lived as the Cubs came right back with two runs in the seventh inning off "Caps reliever Drew Crosby and took the 4-3 lead. Wenceel Perez and Parker Meadows each tallied base hits in the last two innings but were stranded on the base paths as the Whitecaps could not overcome the deficit and enabled South Bend to sweep the weather-shortened two-game series.
Crosby (1-3) suffered the loss, giving up three hits and two runs in a third of an inning of work. Kirby struck out five and scattered five hits and two runs in his sixth start of 2019 for West Michigan. Jake Patterson (3-1) picked up the win in relief for the Cubs, tossing a perfect inning and recording two strikeouts. On a day where Whitecaps offense struggled with only six hits, Vinny Esposito enjoyed his first multi-hit game of the season with two singles. Whitecaps batters went 0-7 with runners in scoring position. With the loss, the Whitecaps finish the first half standings at 21-48 - their worst half-season record in franchise history. South Bend closes out the first half with a four-game winning streak and a record of 37-31.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps open the 2019 second half with a four-game series in Ohio against the Lake County Captains Thursday at 7:00 pm from Classic Park. Whitecaps pitcher Adam Wolf is scheduled to get the start for West Michigan. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 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 June 16, 2019
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- Captains Rally Late, Take Walk-Off Loss to End First Half - Lake County Captains
- At Midway Point, Loons Enter Record Books - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Fall to Loons to Close out First Half - Dayton Dragons
- Nuts Close First Half with 2-1 Triumph - Lansing Lugnuts
- Anthony Contreras Ties Wins Record for a Fort Wayne Manager - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- TinCaps Game Notes: June 16 vs. Lake County (Game 68) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dayton Dragons GameDay & Notes for Sunday - Dayton Dragons
- Captains Punch Playoff Ticket - Lake County Captains
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