MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Brantly's walk-off caps homestand in style

Published on August 6, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps wrapped up their seven-game homestand with a bang on Friday night, as Rob Brantly's walk-off single in the bottom of the ninth delivered a 2-1 victory over the Great Lakes Loons in front of a crowd of 8,510 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (16-24, 42-67) split the four-game set with the Loons and finished the homestand at 4-3, recovering from a blown save in the top of the ninth to win in dramatic fashion. Still boasting the best overall record in full-season affiliated baseball, Great Lakes (30-10, 73-36) suffered just their 10th loss since the All-Star break.

After two fantastic starting pitching performances stole the show through the first eight innings, the game was tied at 1-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth. Wade Gaynor sparked the game-winning rally by drawing a leadoff walk and then advanced to second on an errant pickoff throw to first. Tony Plagman also drew a walk, but Avisail Garcia popped out to shallow right for the second out of the inning. With men at first and second and two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Brantly grounded a 2-1 pitch up the middle that snuck past the shortstop, scoring Gaynor for the 2-1 victory.

Kenny Faulk (4-4) earned the win despite blowing the save in the top of the ninth, while Loons' reliever Steve Smith (3-5) suffered the loss in the bottom half of the frame.

Prior to the late drama, the game was marked by excellent starting pitching.

West Michigan's Victor Larez carried a four-hit shutout into the ninth, but was removed after walking the first batter of the final frame. That runner eventually came around to score, preventing what would have been a second consecutive shutout victory for the ‘Caps. Larez was charged with one run on four hits over eight innings of work, striking out one and walking three on 93 pitches.

Matt Magill countered with eight strong innings of his own for Great Lakes, holding the Whitecaps to one run on four hits while fanning three and walking three.

The Whitecaps' only run against Magill came in the bottom of the first. Corey Jones reached base on a one-out walk and moved to second when Carlos Guillen, in town on a rehab assignment, drew a walk. Gaynor then looped a single to left-center that plated Jones for a quick 1-0 lead.

That score lasted all the way until the ninth. Angelo Songco drew the leadoff walk that chased Larez from the game and was promptly removed for pinch runner Stetson Banks. A single by Blake Smith advanced Banks to third. Brian Cavazos-Galvez followed by drilling a double to left-center that scored Banks for the game-tying run, but West Michigan executed a perfect relay to the plate to gun down Smith.

Reliever Kenny Faulk struck out the next two batters to hold the score at 1-1 and give the ‘Caps a chance to win it in the bottom of the ninth.

The dramatic conclusion overshadowed the rehab appearance by Detroit Tigers' second baseman Carlos Guillen, who played six innings and drew a walk in the first inning that helped West Michigan rally for an early run. After grounding into a double play in the third, the 34-year-old from Venezuela reached base on a fielder's choice groundout in the sixth. Guillen is expected to play with the ‘Caps again on Saturday night in Dayton and possibly Sunday before rejoining the Tigers when he is eligible to come off the Disabled List on Monday.

Rehabbing Detroit Tigers' star Carlos Guillen and the Whitecaps hit the road for a seven-game trip that kicks off with a 7:07 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night against the Dayton Dragons. RHP Luis Angel Sanz (1-5, 6.31) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Tim Crabbe (2-3, 3.86) of the Dragons. The Whitecaps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, August 14, for a seven-day homestand that starts with a 7:00 p.m. game against the South Bend Silver Hawks. The first 1,000 kids ages 14-and-under will receive capes on Superhero Night presented by Charter Communications, and the evening will culminate with a tremendous fireworks display thanks to Farm Bureau Insurance. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 6, 2010


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