Win Streak Reaches Eight as 'Caps Keep Rolling
August 12, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BOWLING GREEN, KY - The West Michigan Whitecaps extended their season-high winning streak to eight games with a 4-1 victory against the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Thursday night at Bowling Green Ballpark.
In addition to the longest Whitecaps' winning streak since 2006, West Michigan (22-24, 48-67) has now tied a franchise record with nine consecutive road wins. A victory in the road trip finale against Bowling Green (20-26, 51-64) on Friday would complete a perfect seven-game trip while marking a third consecutive road sweep.
The Whitecaps were held without a hit through the first three innings before local favorite Wade Gaynor powered the go-ahead rally.
Michael Rockett led off with a double before Gaynor - a Kentucky native who played his college ball at Bowling Green's Western Kentucky University - lined a 2-2 pitch down the right field line. The ball bounced just inside the foul line and rolled into the corner as Gaynor raced around the bases for an RBI-triple. Two pitches later, Avisail Garcia brought him home with a sacrifice fly for a 2-0 lead.
As it turned out, that was all the offense the Whitecaps would need as a trio of West Michigan pitchers combined on a three-hitter. Only three Hot Rods baserunners reached scoring position, all of which were aided by stolen bases or wild pitches to get past first base.
Whitecaps' starter Luis Angel Sanz (2-5) led the effort with six shutout innings, allowing just two singles to earn his first win since July 10. He issued three walks but struck out five to set the tone.
West Michigan added to the lead in the seventh. Jeff Rowland extended his hitting streak to eight games with a one-out single that chased Bowling Green starter Kyle Lobstein from the contest. On the first pitch thrown by reliever Scott Shuman, Rolwand stole second to reach scoring position. That set the stage for Jamie Johnson to drive home a two-out run with a groundball single to right for a 3-0 edge.
Bowling Green broke up the shutout with a single run in the bottom of the eighth, but the Whitecaps answered with an insurance run in the top of the ninth. Rob Brantly extended his hitting streak to 14 games with a leadoff single, tying the team-high established by Gaynor from July 5-19. After stealing second, he came around to score on a two-out single by Hernan Perez to reach the 4-1 final.
After two relief innings from Antonio Cruz, closer Kenny Faulk (8) came in for the ninth inning and earned his second save in as many nights. The lefty from Georgia seamlessly pitched around a leadoff error to retire the next three batters in order, turning in his ninth consecutive scoreless appearance.
Lobstein (7-6) suffered the loss for Bowling Green despite a solid outing on his 21st birthday. The lefty did not allow a hit until the fourth inning and turned in a quality start. He was charged with three runs on six hits over 6.1 innings, striking out six and walking one.
The Whitecaps wrap up a seven-game road trip with the finale of a three-game series in Bowling Green at 8:05 p.m. ET on Friday night. RHP Patrick Cooper (0-0, 5.68) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Albert Suarez (0-3, 5.79) of the Hot Rods. The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark for a seven-day homestand that starts with a 7:00 p.m. game against the South Bend Silver Hawks on Saturday, August 14. 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. 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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