COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed a solid rehab start from Tarik Skubal as the offense came alive in an 8-6 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 6,343 fans Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Skubal finished his second rehab appearance allowing one unearned run
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed a solid rehab start from Tarik Skubal as the offense came alive in an 8-6 win over the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in front of 6,343 fans Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Skubal finished his second rehab appearance allowing one unearned run through three innings pitched with six strikeouts as West Michigan blasted four home runs – including a two-homer game from Jace Jung – in the victory.
The Whitecaps struck in the first inning as Jung roped an RBI double before Chris Meyers blasted a three-run homer, taking the 4-0 lead. Wisconsin responded in the second with an RBI single from Ernesto Martinez before Jung smoked his second home run in the bottom half, extending the lead to 5-1. The Timber Rattlers exploded for five runs in the fourth frame – featuring RBI singles from Robert Moore, Matt Wood, and Joe Gray Jr. – forging in front 6-5. West Michigan responded swiftly in the bottom half, as Serretti and Jung blasted back-to-back homers to put the ‘Caps back in front 7-6. West Michigan added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth as Dillon Paulson added an RBI before ‘Caps closer Jordan Marks collected two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth to slam the door on an 8-6 victory.
West Michigan improves to 29-26 as the Timber Rattlers fall to 21-33. Whitecaps reliever Bryce Tassin (1-1) recorded the final two outs of the fourth inning to secure his first win, as Marks gets his first save. Timber Rattlers starter Stevin Cruz (2-5) suffered his fifth loss, allowing seven runs through 3.1 innings pitched. The ‘Caps four home runs are the most in a single game at LMCU Ballpark this season. Meanwhile, Jung has now enjoyed two multi-homer games this season.
UP NEXT
The ‘Caps play the next-to-last game of this six-game series the Timber Rattlers on Saturday at 7:05 pm. Whitecaps pitcher Carlos Pena makes the start West Michigan against Wisconsin righty Tyler Woessner. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2023 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.