‘Caps Bitten By T-Rats in 5-2 Loss
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps failed to capitalize on various run-scoring opportunities, falling to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 in front of 6,301 fans Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark. West Michigan advanced a runner to third base in four separate innings, but they couldn’t get the big
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps failed to capitalize on various run-scoring opportunities, falling to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 5-2 in front of 6,301 fans Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
West Michigan advanced a runner to third base in four separate innings, but they couldn’t get the big swing they needed, leaving ten runners on base while finishing just 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position in the defeat. As their losing streak extends to four games, their collective performance with runners at second and third base moves to 5-for-34 (a combined batting average of .147) during that span.
Both teams traded runs in the third inning as Rattlers outfielder Eduarqui Fernandez belted a solo home run to left field before ‘Caps second baseman Max Anderson added a sacrifice fly in the bottom half – leveling the game at one. Wisconsin responded with three runs across the fourth and fifth as third baseman Luke Adams added a solo homer before a balk and an RBI groundout from shortstop Jadher Areinamo delivered them the 4-1 advantage. West Michigan chipped away with an RBI single by Danny Serretti in the bottom of the seventh – but they couldn’t complete the rally – as Rattlers catcher Matt Wood added an RBI single in the eighth before reliever Will Childers slammed the door with two scoreless frames - finishing the job and earning the victory.
The Timber Rattlers improve to 37-21 while the Whitecaps fall to 29-29 – now sitting six games out of first place in the Midwest League East Division with eight games to play in the first half of the season. Timber Rattlers starting pitcher Mark Manfredi (3-1) picked up his third win – giving up one run (none earned) through five innings with two strikeouts as Childers secured his second save. Meanwhile, Smith (0-4) suffers his fourth loss, giving up two runs through four innings. Tuesday’s ballgame saw two separate Wisconsin Timber Rattlers get ejected in manager Victor Estevez and designated hitter Jesus Chirinos – the first time an opponent has been ejected at LMCU Ballpark this season.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the first-place Wisconsin Timber Rattlers from LMCU Ballpark on Wednesday at 6:35 pm. Righty Colin Fields gets the start for West Michigan against Wisconsin’s Tate Kuehner. To catch all the action, 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. Don’t miss out on the excitement; get your tickets for all 2024 home contests, or listen to the games live at whitecapsbaseball.com.