CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (WHTC AM/FM) – A pitcher’s duel saw the West Michigan Whitecaps lead throughout the evening, but a late rally saw the contest result in a 2-1 loss to the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Tuesday night at Perfect Game Field.
Whitecaps starting pitcher and Detroit Tigers Top-5 prospect Ty Madden dominated in five scoreless innings while striking out five, but West Michigan let a 1-0 lead slip away in the eighth inning in suffering the tough loss. The Whitecaps have won four of the seven games played during their 12-game road trip.
While Madden kept Kernels hitters off-balance throughout the evening, so did Cedar Rapids starter David Festa, who held the ‘Caps to just one run in six innings on the mound. Trei Cruz plated the lone West Michigan run with a sacrifice fly in the third as the teams traded scoreless innings until the late stages. In the bottom of the eighth, reliever Bryce Tassin (Loss, 2-2) struck out the first batter he faced before giving up a single and walk, giving the Kernels back-to-back base runners for the first time in the ballgame. Christian Encarnacion-Strand delivered a game-tying RBI-Double down the first-base line before Seth Gray plated the go-ahead run with a sacrifice fly of his own to ensure the victory and give Cedar Rapids the 2-1 lead. Derek Molina pitched a perfect ninth inning for the Kernels to collect his third save of the season.
Cedar Rapids reliever Bradley Hanner (4-1) tossed two scoreless innings in relief to earn his fourth win of the 2022 season, while Tassin gets the loss. The Whitecaps record falls to 30-34 as Cedar Rapids improves to 42-22. Alfonzo led the Whitecaps with his second straight multi-hit performance in a 2-for-4 evening.
The Whitecaps look to even this six-game series against the first-place Cedar Rapids Kernels with a Wednesday matinee at 1:05 p.m. Pitcher Keider Montero takes the mound for the ‘Caps against the Kernels Brent Headrick.
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