EASTLAKE, OH – The West Michigan Whitecaps bullpen posted a dominant performance by striking out 16 batters in 5.2 scoreless innings as part of a 5-3 loss to the Lake County Captains on Thursday at Classic Park.
Pitchers Sandel De La Cruz and Chris Mauloni combined to keep the Whitecaps in the game after falling behind 5-3 through three innings, but the offense failed to generate a comeback at the plate. The ‘Caps pitching staff totaled to strike out 16 batters to tie their highest total in a game all season. The last time the Whitecaps struck out 16 came on May 19 in a 6-4 win at Wisconsin.
West Michigan took a 1-0 lead in the second on an Ulrich Bojarski RBI-single before Lake County pulled ahead with a two-run double by Wilfri Peralta in the bottom of the frame. In the third, both teams traded two-run homers as Gage Workman blasted his third of the year to give the ‘Caps a 3-2 lead before George Valera launched a corresponding homer to help Lake County retake the 4-3 lead. On the next pitch, shortstop Jose Tena blasted a solo home run of his own to extend the Captains lead to 5-3. Both pitching staffs dominated the remainder of the evening – with neither side allowing more than a single in the contest.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Adam Wolf (3-4) lasted just 2.1 innings and gave up all five Lake County runs in suffering his fourth loss of the year. Captains reliever Zach Draper (1-2) tossed five scoreless innings in relief to collect his first win of the season. Jerson Ramirez struck out the side in the ninth for his second save of the season. The Captains improve to 45-41 as the ‘Caps fall to 41-45. Outfielder Daniel Cabrera led the ‘Caps offense with a 2-for-4 performance and a double in a losing cause.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Lake County Captains from Classic Park with a doubleheader on Friday at 4:00 pm. Newest Detroit Tigers top prospect Reese Olson goes to the mound against the Captains in the first game. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 4:00 pm. Get your tickets for all 2021 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.