MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Fall again to Resilient Lugnuts

Published on September 2, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


LANSING, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps were denied a spot in the post-season for the second straight evening on Thursday, defeated by the Lansing Lugnuts, 6-2, at Cooley Law School Stadium.

West Michigan (34-32, 60-75) fell behind early and left nine men on base as their lead over Lansing (31-35, 67-68) was cut to three games with four to play in the race for the Eastern Division's final playoff spot. The Whitecaps can still clinch a berth in the post-season by avoiding a sweep with a victory in the series finale on Friday night as the Lugnuts continue to fight to extend their season.

The Lugnuts' offensive star on Thursday was leadoff man Oliver Dominguez, who went 2-for-2 with a two-run homer, a stolen base, and a pair of walks in four plate appearances.

Dominguez sparked Lansing to a first-inning rally by singling, stealing second, and taking third on a bunt before scoring on a broken-bat single by Brad McElroy. After a fielder's choice groundout put Brad Glenn at first in McElroy's place, K.C. Hobson drilled a double to right-center that resulted in a play at the plate - but as the ball bounced to catcher Luis Alberto Sanz, Glen bowled over the backstop and scored for a 2-0 lead.

It was more of the same in the second inning. Jake Marisnick smacked a leadoff triple to right-center and promptly came home on a sacrifice fly. Later in the frame, a key two-out error allowed another run to score as the margin swelled to 4-0.

Jamie Johnson tripled and scored to put the Whitecaps on the board in the third, only to watch a two-run homer by Dominguez extend the Lugnuts' lead to 6-1 after four innings of play.

West Michigan had a pair of bases-loaded opportunities in the fifth and seventh, both of which came with one out. In the fifth, Wade Gaynor bounced into a double play ball that ended the inning. Gaynor was able to cut the deficit to 6-2 on a groundout in the seventh, but Avisail Garcia followed with a groundout of his own to strand runners at second and third.

Egan Smith (7-4) picked up the win for Lansing, allowing one run over six innings. He struck out five without issuing a walk and scattered eight hits.

The loss went to Luis Angel Sanz (4-7), who struggled through 5.1 innings and gave up six runs - five earned - on nine hits and three walks.

The Whitecaps are closing out the 2010 regular season with a six-game road trip that continues with the finale of a three-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts at 7:05 p.m. on Friday, September 3. RHP Patrick Cooper (2-1, 5.40) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against RHP Dave Sever (6-9, 4.26) of the Lugnuts. Although the home portion of the 2010 regular season is complete, the Whitecaps are fighting for a playoff berth and will have a 7:00 p.m. home game at Fifth Third Ballpark on Wednesday, September 8, if they qualify for the post-season.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from September 2, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central