‘Caps Fall to Nwogu, Cubs
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps witnessed a performance not seen in Comstock Park in more than a decade, as outfielder Jordan Nwogu blasted three home runs as part of a 13-3 loss to the South Bend Cubs on Thursday night in front of 5,580 fans at LMCU
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps witnessed a performance not seen in Comstock Park in more than a decade, as outfielder Jordan Nwogu blasted three home runs as part of a 13-3 loss to the South Bend Cubs on Thursday night in front of 5,580 fans at LMCU Ballpark.
Nwogu, who played collegiately at the University of Michigan, homered in the first, third, and fifth innings, becoming the first opposing player to collect a three-homer game since Byron Wiley of the Dayton Dragons accomplished the feat in on July 5, 2009.
After the series' first two games totaled just six runs, Thursday's proceedings were a change of pace. Nwogu blasted a tape-measure home run as the second batter of the ballgame before adding a two-run shot down the left-field line in the third. After plating four more runs in the fourth inning, South Bend got back-to-back home runs from Pete Crow-Armstrong, one of the top prospects in Major League Baseball, before Nwogu followed with his third home run of the night, capping a historic performance.
WATCH: NWOGU'S THREE-HOMER GAME
Luis Devers (3-0) tossed five innings of one-run baseball while striking out six in collecting his third win of the season, while 'Caps starter Garrett Burhenn (0-1) gave up seven runs in 3.1 frames in his first loss with West Michigan. The 'Caps drop to 61-56 and 30-21 in the second half, while the Cubs jump to 66-51 and 32-19 in the second half. The Whitecaps sit three games back of the Lake County Captains for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division second-half standings. Trei Cruz and infielder Carlos Mendoza each collected a pair of hits in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
This series between the Whitecaps and South Bend Cubs marches on from LMCU Ballpark Friday at 6:35 pm. Righties Keider Montero and Kohl Franklin get the starts for West Michigan and South Bend, respectively. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm. Get your tickets for all 2022 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.