COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps leaned on an early offensive explosion as every 'Caps hitter reached base in a 10-6 victory, but one that came at a potential cost over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 8,092 fans Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps scored nine of their 10 runs in the first three innings as both Bryce Rainer and Andrew Sojka added home runs in the game, bringing their total to nine homers through the first five contests of the series. Meanwhile, Detroit Tigers newly named No. 10 prospect and Whitecaps starting pitcher Brady Smith exited the game after just 1.1 innings of work with an apparent injury.
Rainer kicked off the first inning with his 12th home run of the season, a solo blast, before the Whitecaps added three more runs in the second, highlighted by an RBI double from infielder Carson Rucker, making it 4-0 Whitecaps. Lansing responded with three in the third as outfielder Jake Reinisch plated three runs with a Little League home run, cutting the lead to 4-3. West Michigan then exploded for five runs in the third, highlighted by a two-run single from infielder Juan Hernandez, taking a commanding 9-3 lead. The seesaw affair continued in the fifth as the Lugnuts collected three runs on the strength of a two-run double from designated hitter Rodney Green Jr. and a ground rule RBI double from outfielder Pedro Pineda, both on fly balls that were loss in the evening sky, slicing the lead to 9-6. The Whitecaps added an insurance tally in the sixth as Andrew Sojka sent a solo homer over the right-field wall, making it 10-6. West Michigan relievers Ryan Harvey and Zack Lee carried the Whitecaps to the finish line, tossing 4.1 scoreless innings with four strikeouts to cap off the 10-6 win and guarantee a series victory.
The Whitecaps improve to 28-19 in the second half and 52-59 overall, while the Lugnuts fall to 19-27 in the second half and 48-62 overall. West Michigan reliever Eliseo Mota (1-1) picks up his first win, allowing three runs through 1.2 innings pitched. Meanwhile, Lansing starting pitcher Devin Kirby-Williams (2-2) suffers his second loss, allowing nine earned runs through 2.2 innings pitched. Rucker finished the contest reaching base four times with a double and first RBI as a member of the Whitecaps in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Lugnuts conclude their six-game series at LMCU Ballpark with a Sunday matinee, with first pitch scheduled for 2:00 pm. Defending Midwest League Pitcher of the Week Connor Fenlong gets the start for West Michigan against the Lugnuts Jorge Marcheco. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:45 pm on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids, and online at WhitecapsBaseball.com.