The West Michigan Whitecaps overcame a pair of two-run deficits to win, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
Game recap from the Fort Wayne TinCaps:
Pauley Homers Again, But Late Lead Slips Away Again
Comstock Park, Michigan (July 30, 2023) – TinCaps left fielder Graham Pauley (No. 30 Padres prospect) homered for the third time in five games, but the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers affiliate) overcame a pair of two-run deficits to win, 6-5, on Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
Pauley hit a two-run homer in the top of the first inning against Tigers starting pitcher Spencer Turnbull, who was on a rehab assignment. The left-handed swinging Duke alum has launched nine homers in 27 games since making his High-A debut on June 27. In that time, no one else in the Midwest League has hit more than six. The rocket to right field scored center fielder Jakob Marsee (No. 22 Padres prospect), who led the game off with a single.
Meanwhile, Turnbull went three innings with three strikeouts, working his way back from a neck injury that placed him on the Injured List in May.
West Michigan (14-16, 46-49) scored a pair of unearned runs with two outs in the second inning to equalize. Otherwise, starter Bodi Rascon threw five no-hit innings with no earned runs allowed, striking out four against three walks.
Fort Wayne (17-13, 49-47) went back ahead in the seventh as catcher Juan Zabala and shortstop Kervín Pichardo each provided RBI singles.
The Whitecaps, however, as they did Saturday night, too, came from behind again with four runs in the bottom of the eighth inning to go up, 6-4.
The TinCaps rallied in the ninth, with second baseman Nerwilian Cedeño (No. 12 Padres prospect) knocking a two-out RBI single to score Pichardo. Nathan Martorella (No. 23 Padres prospect), who had walked earlier in the day to extend his on-base streak to 16 games, hit a line drive with an exit velocity of 104 MPH that was caught on a dive by second baseman Carlos Mendoza to end the game.
Marsee, Pauley, and Pichardo each finished with two hits.
Fort Wayne leads the league in home runs (96) and OPS (.733). The team’s starting pitchers have the lowest collective ERA (3.23), but the squad’s relievers have the highest (4.97). The TinCaps were affected this week by four players, including three pitchers, being placed on the Injured List.
The TinCaps are now tied with the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds affiliate) for first place in the East Division’s second-half standings.
Next Game: Tuesday, Aug. 1 vs. Great Lakes (7:05 p.m.)
- TinCaps Probable Starter: LHP Robby Snelling (No. 4 Padres prospect)
- Loons Probable Starter: TBD
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