DAYTON, OH — The West Michigan Whitecaps saw a late lead disappear as the Dayton Dragons erupted for six runs in the eighth inning, handing the ‘Caps a 9-4 loss Thursday night in front of 7,755 fans at Day Air Ballpark.
The loss snapped West Michigan’s three-game winning streak and dropped the Whitecaps two games behind the Great Lakes Loons in the Midwest League Eastern Division second-half playoff race with three games remaining. Great Lakes did not play Thursday, as its doubleheader at Lake County was postponed by rain and rescheduled for Friday.
Dayton struck first in the second inning as outfielder Damian Ruiz was hit by a pitch before stealing second and advancing to third on a single from outfielder Kyle Henley. Designated hitter Johnny Ascanio followed with a sacrifice fly, giving the Dragons a 1-0 advantage. The Whitecaps answered in the third when first baseman Beau Ankeney launched a two-run homer – his ninth of the season – to put West Michigan in front 2-1. The ‘Caps added another run in the fourth before infielder Tyson Lewis responded with a solo homer in the bottom half, trimming the lead to 3-2. West Michigan pushed another run across in the sixth before Henley doubled home infielder Alfredo Alcantara in the bottom of the frame, pulling Dayton within one at 4-3.
The Whitecaps carried that advantage into the eighth before the Dragons broke through. Lewis opened the inning with an infield single before Henley delivered an RBI double to tie the game at four. Ascanio followed with a run-scoring single to put Dayton in front before first baseman John Michael Faile added a two-run single and catcher Ryan McCrystal capped the six-run frame with a two-run double, giving the Dragons a 9-4 advantage they wouldn’t relinquish.
The Whitecaps finished with eight hits in the loss, highlighted by Ankeney’s two-run homer. Meanwhile, Henley led the Dragons offense by finishing 4-for-4 with two doubles while playing a role in Dayton’s go-ahead rally. Dragons reliever David Lorduy (2-2) earned the victory after striking out six over two scoreless innings, while Whitecaps reliever Jalen Evans (4-5) suffered the loss.
West Michigan falls to 35-28 in the second half and 59-68 overall, while Dayton improves to 26-35 in the second half and 65-62 overall. The Whitecaps now sit two games behind Great Lakes with three games remaining, setting up a pivotal Friday in the Eastern Division playoff race. The Loons and Lake County Captains will play a doubleheader Friday in Eastlake after Thursday’s postponements, giving Great Lakes five games remaining compared to three for West Michigan.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps play the Friday night contest of this six-game series against the Dayton Dragons from Day Air Ballpark at 7:05pm. Righty Maddox Long gets the start for West Michigan against the Dragons Mason Morris. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 p.m. with the Pella Windows Pregame Show on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids, and online at WhitecapsBaseball.com.