Whitecaps Worn Down by Captains
Published on April 27, 2019 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - An early lead for the West Michigan Whitecaps evaporated as the Lake County Captains chipped away at a four-run deficit and defeated the 'Caps by a score of 6-5 on a chilly Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Friday's contest mimicked the previous night as the Whitecaps enjoyed a four-run advantage to begin the evening. After Lake County scored an unearned run in the opening frame off "Caps starter Wilkel Hernandez, Captains starter Luis Oviedo failed to finish the first inning as Nick Ames delivered a two-run single as part of a five-run Whitecaps surge. Oviedo walked two and hit a pair of batters while relinquishing four hits in his shortest start of 2019.
Lake County managed to chip away at the "Caps 5-1 lead with single runs in the third and fourth innings and finally chased Hernandez from the game in the fifth by scoring three and taking a 6-5 lead. Mitch Reeves highlighted the Captains rally with a run-scoring double to score Tyler Freeman. The Whitecaps bats found no traction after their big first and only mustered one single against three Captains relievers during the final five innings. Back-to-back walks to Sam McMillan and Jeremiah Burks in the eighth provided the "Caps best chance for a rally, but a great catch by Captains left-fielder Will Benson off a line drive from Wenceel Perez ended the inning. The Whitecaps went quietly in the ninth to give Lake County the 6-5 win.
Hernandez (2-2) went 4.1 innings in taking the loss after giving up five earned runs and six hits. The righty walked three and struck out four Captains. Zack Draper (1-0) picked up his first win of 2019, pacing a relief corps that combined to strike out eleven and allow only three hits. Drew Crosby proved to be a bright spot out of the "Caps bullpen, tossing 4.2 innings of shutout baseball. Crosby struck out five and issued only two singles in the longest outing of his professional career. Ames and Parker Meadows provided two hits apiece for West Michigan. Ames' two RBI on Friday give him five for the series. West Michigan missed their chance to reach the .500 mark for the first time since April 15 and fell to 9-11. Lake County leads the Eastern Division with a 13-8 record after the victory.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps four-game series with the Lake County Captains at Fifth Third Ballpark continues Saturday at 4:00 pm. Pitcher Carlos Guzman gets the start on the mound for the "Caps against Captains pitcher Raymond Burgos. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 3:50 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.
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