Double Plays Doom Whitecaps
April 19, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - A pair of late rallies were squelched by double plays on Monday night at Fifth Third Ballpark, as the West Michigan Whitecaps fell by a 5-3 score to the Great Lakes Loons.
West Michigan (5-7) stranded 32 runners on base while dropping two of three games to Great Lakes (8-4), including 19 men in scoring position.
The Loons jumped onto the scoreboard first in the top of the second inning. Jerry Sands led off with a double and scored on a single to center by Blake Smith. Later in the frame, Johan Garcia delivered a two-out single to left that plated Smith for a 2-0 lead.
Michael Rockett doubled and scored for West Michigan in the bottom of the second to cut the deficit in half, but Great Lakes quickly pushed the advantage back to two. Brian Cavazos-Galvez led off the top of the third with a single and promptly stole second base. On the very next pitch he broke for third, and when the catcher's throw sailed into left field, Cavazos-Galvez scampered home for a 3-1 edge.
In the sixth, Chris Jacobs added a two-run homer to left-center that stretched the lead to 5-1.
The Whitecaps scratched their way back into the game with a two-out rally in the sixth. Wade Gaynor coaxed a two-out walk, Avisail Garcia beat out an infield single, and Jordan Lennerton drew a free pass to load the bases and force a pitching change. Rockett greeted the new reliever with a bouncer to third, and when Johan Garcia's throw to first sailed high, two runs scored to make it a 5-3 ballgame.
West Michigan had a pair of golden opportunities to close the gap late in the game, but a double play with the bases loaded squashed the rally on both occasions.
In the seventh, a single sandwiched between a pair of walks packed the bags with nobody out. But after Mike Gosse struck out swinging, Gaynor's hard-hit grounder was snagged by a diving Rafael Ynoa at second, starting a highlight-reel 4-6-3 double play.
The Whitecaps loaded them up again with one out in the bottom of the ninth. But with a 2-2 count, Gosse scorched a liner right at Ynoa, who easily doubled up Eric Roof at second base.
Brett Wallach (2-0) earned the win after allowing three runs - one earned - on three hits over 5.2 innings. Steve Smith (3) tossed the final two frames for the save.
Jade Todd (0-2) suffered the loss, yielding three runs - two earned - on six hits over five frames while fanning six and walking one.
The Whitecaps head to Fifth Third Field to start a three-game road series against the Dayton Dragons at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, April 20, as RHP Jacob Turner (0-0, 1.00) takes the mound against RHP Brian Pearl (0-0, 2.79). They return to West Michigan on Friday, April 23, to face the South Bend Silver Hawks. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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