Whew! 'Caps hold on, beat Lansing
June 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
ANSING, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps (34-20) raced out to a 5-1 lead at Oldsmobile Park and held on for a 5-4 win over the Lansing Lugnuts (20-33) on Saturday night in game one of the series. Caps closer Tyler Stohr tossed the last five out of the game for his eighth save and got a game-ending double play with the tying run on second base.
The Whitecaps turned to reliever Anthony Shawler as their starter. His first start of the season went well as he turned in 4.1 innings of six-hit ball surrendering 2 runs, 2 walks, with one strikeout.
Caps hitters gave him early run support with two early tallies in the first. Brandon Douglas just missed his first homerun of the year on his double to left center field with two outs. Ronnie Bourquin followed with a double to score Douglas and put the Caps on the board. Bryan Pounds would make it, 2-0 Whitecaps, when he lined an RBI single to right to bring in Bourquin.
After Lansing scored in the bottom of the first, the Whitecaps produced three more runs in the top of the second. Keith Hernandez led off with a double in his first Whitecaps' at-bat. Gustavo Nunez sent Hernandez home on his ground ball to short that was misplayed by Tyler Pastornicky. Brent Wyatt's single made the lead grow to 4-1 as he chased home Nunez. And Ronnie Bourquin provided the final run for the Caps in the inning (and the game) with his second RBI double in as many at bats.
The Lugnuts clawed their way back into the game with a single run in the fourth and two in the seventh.
Good relief work by Jared Gayhart and Tyler Conn helped set the table for Tyler Stohr. Gayhart picked up his third win of the year, and Conn received a hold for his work.
Bourquin finished the game 3-5 with two RBI. Brent Wyatt and Keith Hernandez each had two hits.
Sunday features a doubleheader between the two teams at Oldsmobile Park. Game time for the opening game is set for 2:05 p.m.
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Midwest League Stories from June 6, 2009
- Whew! 'Caps hold on, beat Lansing - West Michigan Whitecaps
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- Bees Rally in Ninth for Win - Burlington Bees
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- TinCaps Rebound With 5-1 Win - Fort Wayne TinCaps
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- Whitecaps Hold Off Lugnuts, 5-4 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Loons Win Pitchers' Duel, 2-1 - Great Lakes Loons
- Cougars Knocked Out by Peoria - Kane County Cougars
- Loons Edge Dragons 2-1 in Series Opener - Dayton Dragons
- Hawks Held to Two Hits in Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Rainout Saturday means doubleheader Sunday - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Macias Returns to Chiefs, Shafer Activated for Saturday Start - Peoria Chiefs
- Kickoff Summer On Monday With Miller Beer And The Timber Ratters - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- INF Chris Fox Joins Kernels - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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