DAYTON, OH — In a game that featured 25 runs, six home runs and multiple dramatic swings, the West Michigan Whitecaps saved their biggest rally for last, scoring six unanswered runs while Jackson Strong enjoyed a huge night at the plate as part of a wild 14-11 victory over the Dayton Dragons Tuesday night at Day Air Ballpark.
Strong blasted a pair of home runs – including his first to begin the ballgame – while reaching base five times, scoring three runs and driving in five as West Michigan overcame deficits of 8-5 and 11-8 before a five-run eighth inning put the ‘Caps in front for good. With a 4-3 loss by the Great Lakes Loons to the Lake County Captains on Tuesday, the Whitecaps trim their Midwest League Eastern Division title deficit to 1.5 games behind the Loons with five games remaining.
West Michigan came out swinging, as Strong and Bryce Rainer opened the contest with back-to-back home runs, staking the Whitecaps to a 2-0 lead before an out was recorded. After Justin Lebron answered with a solo homer in the bottom of the inning, Strong struck again in the second, blasting a three-run shot for his 16th homer of the season and second of the night, extending the advantage to 5-1. The Dragons responded with an offensive explosion of their own, sending 11 hitters to the plate and scoring seven times in the bottom of the frame – highlighted by homers from Alfredo Alcantara and Ty Doucette – to surge in front 8-5.
The Whitecaps answered with three runs in the third, as Carson Rucker delivered an RBI single before Strong and Rainer drew consecutive bases-loaded walks to even the score at eight. Dayton, however, continued its home run barrage, as Alcantara and Jacob Friend went back-to-back in the fifth before Kien Vu added a solo shot in the sixth, putting the Dragons back in front 11-8.
West Michigan finally delivered the deciding blow in the eighth. Rainer and Edian Espinal opened the inning with consecutive singles before Cristian Santana walked to load the bases. Ricardo Hurtado was hit by a pitch before Samuel Gil drew a walk, trimming the deficit to a single run. Then, with the bases still loaded, Andrew Sojka hit a ground ball that brought home Santana before a throwing error from Dragons shortstop Justin Lebron allowed Hurtado to score the go-ahead run, giving West Michigan a 12-11 advantage. Rucker followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 13-11.
The Whitecaps added insurance in the ninth, as Strong walked, stole second base and scored on a two-out RBI single from Santana to complete a stretch of six unanswered runs. Meanwhile, after Dayton took its 11-8 lead, the Whitecaps bullpen slammed the door. Ryan Harvey struck out five while allowing just one hit over two scoreless innings before Logan Berrier retired the Dragons in order in the ninth to secure his fourth save.
Strong finished 2-for-3 with two homers, five RBI, three runs scored and three walks while becoming the centerpiece of a Whitecaps offense that drew 11 walks and saw eight different players score at least one run. Rainer reached base five times, finishing 2-for-3 with his 18th homer, two RBI, two runs scored and three walks, while Rucker added two hits and two RBI.
The Whitecaps improve to 34-27 in the second half and 58-67 overall, while the Dragons fall to 25-34 in the second half and 64-61 overall. Harvey (5-6) earned his fifth victory, tossing two scoreless innings with five strikeouts, while Jordan Little (1-2) suffered the loss for Dayton. Berrier worked a perfect ninth inning to earn his fourth save.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Dayton Dragons Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark. Lefty Ben Jacobs gets the start for West Michigan against Dragons left-hander Kyle McCoy. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. 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.