COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps saw Detroit Tigers pitcher Jackson Jobe deliver four strong innings in a rehab start, but were unable to capitalize on several offensive opportunities, falling 7-5 and 2-1 in a doubleheader sweep to the Beloit Sky Carp in front of 7,859 fans Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
Jobe finished the day allowing just one run over four innings with five strikeouts in his fifth appearance since undergoing Tommy John surgery last season. Meanwhile, West Michigan struggled to come through offensively, finishing just 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position while striking out 19 times in the doubleheader sweep.
West Michigan took the lead in the first game with a five-run second inning, highlighted by a three-run home run from Tigers top-30 prospect Izaac Pacheco to grab a 5-0 advantage. Beloit began chipping away in the fourth inning as outfielder Wilfredo Lara added an RBI single before designated hitter Max Williams followed with another run-scoring single in the fifth, trimming the lead to 5-2. The Sky Carp then erupted for four runs in the sixth, highlighted by a two-run homer from infielder Carter Johnson to take a 6-5 lead. Beloit added an insurance run in the seventh on a solo home run from catcher Wilson Weber, and the Whitecaps couldn’t respond as Sky Carp relievers Hayden Cuthbertson and Juan Reynoso retired the final 13 West Michigan hitters to complete the 7-5 victory.
The Whitecaps again took the lead in the second game as infielder Woody Hadeen crossed the plate on a throwing error by Beloit catcher Carlos Sanchez in the first inning to give West Michigan a 1-0 advantage. Beloit Sky Carp starting pitcher Julio Mendez was untouchable after the opening inning, recording eight strikeouts over five innings while allowing just the one unearned run. Beloit took the lead in the fourth as Sanchez and Lara each delivered RBI singles, putting the Sky Carp in front 2-1. Meanwhile, closer Justin Storm made quick work of the 'Caps over the final two innings, tossing two scoreless frames with three strikeouts to send West Michigan to the 2-1 defeat.
The Whitecaps fall to 19-17 in the second half and 43-57 overall, while the Sky Carp improve to 23-13 in the second half and 50-51 overall. In Game 1, 'Caps reliever Preston Howey (1-3) suffered his third loss after allowing five runs over 1.1 innings, while Cuthbertson (5-1) earned his fifth victory with two scoreless frames. In Game 2, 'Caps starting pitcher Connor Fenlong (1-1) suffered his first loss after allowing two runs over four innings, while Mendez (1-0) secured his first win and struck out six straight ‘Caps as part of the Sky Carp victory. Pacheco has been outstanding since returning from the IL, going 3-for-6 with seven RBIs and three home runs in three games with the Whitecaps. West Michigan is now tied with the Fort Wayne TinCaps, one game behind the Great Lakes Loons for first place in the Midwest League East Division.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps make their only 2026 regular season visit to Parkview Field for a six-game series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps beginning Tuesday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids or listen to all the action on whitecapsbaseball.com.