A lack of production at the plate proved costly to Fort Wayne, as it dropped a series opener with West Michigan 6-1.
The two squads are headed in opposite directions of late, as Fort Wayne has lost its last three games and the Whitecaps have now won four straight.
The TinCaps were able to score a run in their first at bat on an RBI single by Tyler Stubblefield, but never got home again.
Stubblefield drove home Jace Peterson, who led off the game with a single and stole second. In Peterson's first action since Friday, the shortstop went 2-4 and recorded his 20th stolen base of the year.
The Fort Wayne (27-32) offense had early success against West Michigan (29-30) starter Kyle Ryan (2-2), collecting four hits within the first six batters of the game.
Ryan settled down, though, and allowed seven total hits in seven innings, striking out six and walking none.
The Whitecaps struggled in the first two innings as Fort Wayne's Frank Garces (1-4) retired the side in order in both frames.
In the third, though, three consecutive run-scoring hits by Brandon Loy, Eugenio Suarez and Steven Moya made it a 3-1 West Michigan lead. Garces was chased from the game in the fifth inning after allowing an RBI single to Dean Green, pushing the score to 4-1. The TinCaps lefty went 4 2/3, allowing eight hits, four earned runs, two walks and striking out six.
West Michigan tacked on a single run in the fifth inning and two more in the seventh to cement the margin of victory.
Today's game will start at 7:10 p.m. and the scheduled starters are Adys Portillo for Fort Wayne and Brennan Smith for West Michigan.
