FORT WAYNE – The TinCaps fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers), 7-3, on Sunday afternoon at Parkview Field before a crowd of more than 7,000.

West Michigan (28-33 second half, 67-61 overall) pulled ahead early, scoring twice in the top of the second inning.

Fort Wayne (24-39, 60-73) responded with a pair of runs during the home half. Brad Zunica raced home on a Eudis Idrogo (W, 5-5) wild pitch, and Peter Van Gansen hit an RBI single to score Jose Carlos Ureña.

The Whitecaps pulled ahead for good in the following at-bat. Jose Azocar laced a two-run triple that plated Jose Zambrano and Joey Havrilak, giving West Michigan a 4-2 edge.

Austin Allen‘s sacrifice fly in the fifth inning brought the TinCaps within one run, but they couldn’t close the gap.

After the Whitecaps added a run in the eighth, Kodie Tidwell struck out with the bases loaded during the bottom half of the frame. West Michigan tacked on two runs in the ninth.

Drew Smith picked up his seventh hold of the season for the Whitecaps, and Mark Ecker notched his fourth save.

Fort Wayne finished 3-for-10 with runners in scoring position, while West Michigan managed a 6-for-19 clip. TinCaps starter Emmanuel Ramirez (L, 2-2) surrendered four runs on eight hits in six innings.

Fort Wayne – which topped the Whitecaps in the first two meetings of the four-game set – can claim a series victory Monday night at Parkview Field, a 7:05 p.m. start.