‘Caps Fall Short on Sunday
COMSTOCK PARK, MI — The West Michigan Whitecaps missed out on their chance to sweep a three-game series as part of a 4-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons in front of 6,140 fans on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark. The Whitecaps couldn’t find the big hit in the big moment,
COMSTOCK PARK, MI — The West Michigan Whitecaps missed out on their chance to sweep a three-game series as part of a 4-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons in front of 6,140 fans on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps couldn’t find the big hit in the big moment, going 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position during Sunday’s contest. The loss also keeps the ‘Caps out of a first-place tie with the Dragons, who extend their lead in the Midwest League Eastern Division to two games for the last postseason spot.
Dayton jumped out to a 2-0 on a pair on run scoring singles – one by Yan Contreras in the second, and another by Hector Rodriguez in the third – and carried that lead into the sixth inning. Pitcher Jaden Hamm, the Detroit Tigers No. 5 Prospect by Baseball America, only lasted 4.1 innings on the mound despite giving up two runs and striking out six in taking a no-decision. In the sixth, the ‘Caps briefly tied the contest when Luke Gold got West Michigan on the board with an RBI-single and Bennett Lee tied the game with a bases-loaded walk to even the score at two. In the following inning, the Dragons retook their two-run lead in the span of three hitters, as Jay Allen and Rodriguez each collected run-scoring singles to push Dayton ahead 4-2 and help the Dragons take the final game of the series. Sunday also marked the first game of the weekend that Dayton was able to score a run, after the series began with back-to-back shutouts by Whitecaps pitchers, totaling 19 scoreless innings by Dragons hitters to begin the weekend.
The Whitecaps fall to 43-46 overall and 12-11 in the second half, while the Dragons jump to 48-42 overall and 14-10 in the second half. Arij Fransen (2-2) picks up his second win of the season in relief, while Max Alba (2-3) suffers his third loss. John Murphy notches his fifth save of the season. Gold led the way at the plate for West Michigan with two of the ‘Caps four base hit in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps begin a six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday night at 6:35 pm. West Michigan sends righty Austin Bergner to the mound for West Michigan as part of a Minor League Rehab Assignment. Tune into the broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm on 106.1 FM ‘The Ticket’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids to catch all the action. Don’t miss out on the excitement; get your tickets for all 2024 home contests, or listen to the games live at whitecapsbaseball.com.