COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps struggled with the bats in the first game of a five-game series and lost 4-1 to the South Bend Cubs Friday night in front of a season-best 8,686 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.Whitecaps hitters were quieted due to a strong starting pitching
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps struggled with the bats in the first game of a five-game series and lost 4-1 to the South Bend Cubs Friday night in front of a season-best 8,686 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Whitecaps hitters were quieted due to a strong starting pitching performance by Erich Uelmen. West Michigan managed only one inning with multiple base runners off Uelmen. Meanwhile, Whitecaps starter Jose Vasquez started strong but departed after just 3.2 innings, walking four and allowing four runs, two of them earned. The Cubs took an early 2-0 lead in the third when Jared Young highlighted the inning with an RBI-single. South Bend increased their lead to 4-0 in the fourth inning as a pair of sacrifice flies from Zach Davis, and Jhonny Bethencourt provided the production. The 'Caps finally responded with their lone run on a solo home run from Ulrich Bojarski in the eighth inning, making it a 4-1 game and concluding the scoring for the night.
Vasquez (1-3) gave way to Oswaldo Castillo and Felix Viloria in relief. The two combined to throw 5.1 innings of three-hit shutout baseball for West Michigan. Cubs starter Erich Uelmen (4-5) took the win, tossing 5.2 innings, allowing no runs and relinquishing only four hits. Uelmen also tallied a season-high nine strikeouts. The Whitecaps saw their three-game win streak come to an end as both clubs moved their season record to 31-29. Cole Peterson provided another multi-hit game with two singles as part of seven overall for West Michigan.
10 MILLION STRONG
The Whitecaps welcomed their 10-millionth fan on Friday. Ada Crast was awarded a gift basket containing $4,000 worth of merchandise including a personalized jersey with, "10,000,000," inscribed on the back. The prize package also included a trip to Disney World.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps start the first of a doubleheader against the South Bend Cubs Saturday at 1:05 pm. Pitcher Clate Schmidt gets the start for the Whitecaps against Cubs righty Jesus Camargo. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 12:55 pm, and begins at 6:55 pm before Game 2. 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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