COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed their biggest offensive performance of the season, rolling over the Fort Wayne TinCaps 18-6 in front of 4,424 fans Wednesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Every Whitecap reached base as the ‘Caps plated 18 runs, surpassing their original single-game high of 17 runs scored on May 29 earlier this season. Daniel Cabrera, Rey Rivera, and Cooper Johnson combined for nine RBIs as Rivera finished 4-for-5, and Cabrera blasted his eighth home run in the victory.
Meanwhile, Austin Bergner had a quality start going six innings while allowing just one run on five hits and striking out six TinCaps hitters in the win.
Fort Wayne scored first as laced an RBI single to take a 1-0 lead in the second inning. The Whitecaps rout began in the bottom half of the second, plating three runs as Wenceel Perez roped a two-run single to forge West Michigan in front 3-1. The ‘Caps added six tallies in the next inning – highlighted by a two-run home run off the bat of Cabrera – to deliver West Michigan the 9-1 advantage. The Whitecaps added nine insurance runs through the fifth and sixth innings – featuring a two-run double off the bat of Johnson – extending the West Michigan advantage to a staggering 18-1. Fort Wayne first baseman Yorman Rodriguez blasted a grand slam in the top of the seventh, but it was too late as ‘Caps bullpen arm Angel Reyes tossed 2.1 shutout innings to secure the Whitecap victory.
Bergner (2-0) picked up his second victory as TinCaps starting pitcher Carlos Guarate (0-5) suffered his fifth loss of 2021, allowing eight runs on nine hits through just two innings of work. The Whitecaps improve to 44-48 on the year as the TinCaps fall to 43-49. The ‘Caps plated seven runs in the fifth inning, surpassing their original single-inning record of six runs scored.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps from LMCU Ballpark on Wednesday at 7:05 pm. Garrett Hill gets the start for West Michigan against lefty Danny Denz. Our Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2021 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
