COMSTOCK PARK, MI – West Michigan Whitecaps home run leader and reigning league MVP Izaac Pacheco blasted a two-run home run for the second straight game as starting pitcher Lucas Elissalt shined in a 10-6 win over the Beloit Sky Carp in front of 6,621 fans Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
In just his second game off the injured list, Pacheco went 1-for-2 with a walk and a two-run home run—his second in as many games for the 'Caps. Meanwhile, Elissalt was impressive, allowing just two runs over 5.1 innings while striking out five in the win.
West Michigan opened the scoring in the first inning as third baseman Izaac Pacheco blasted another two-run home run to take a 2-0 lead. Beloit responded with a run in the second as designated hitter Abrahan Ramirez added a sacrifice fly, trimming the lead to 2-1. The Whitecaps then extended their lead in the fifth as designated hitter Edian Espinal collected his first Midwest League RBI, plating Woody Hadeen with a single up the middle. Sky Carp outfielder Dillon Head then crossed the plate on an RBI groundout in the sixth, cutting the deficit to 3-2. West Michigan piled on seven runs across the seventh and eighth innings, but Beloit wasn't finished, scoring four runs in the ninth, highlighted by an RBI single from Head, making it 10-6 in favor of the 'Caps. Beloit was one batter away from bringing the potential game-tying run to the plate when infielder Emilio Barreras flew out to end the game and send West Michigan to the 10-6 victory.
The Whitecaps improve to 18-15 in the second half and 42-55 overall, while the Sky Carp fall to 21-12 in the second half and 48-50 overall. Elissalt (3-4) earned his third victory, while Sky Carp starting pitcher Nate Payne (3-6) suffered his sixth loss after allowing two runs on five walks over three innings. Elissalt has enjoyed a dominant month of July, allowing just two runs over 19.2 innings while issuing only four walks and recording 22 strikeouts.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue to the weekend portion of this six-game series against the Beloit Sky Carp at LMCU Ballpark with a contest on Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm. Lefty Joe Miller returns to Comstock Park to make the start as part of a Minor League Rehab Assignment against Aiden May for Beloit. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler 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.