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West Michigan Whitecaps

Collier, Bullpen Twirl Five-Hit Shutout

July 21, 2012 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Three West Michigan Whitecaps' pitchers combined to throw a five-hit shutout for a 5-0 win over the Burlington Bees in front of a Saturday night crowd of 8,819 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (15-13, 51-47) was able to out-duel Burlington (15-13, 47-50) ace Drew Granier, who entered the game leading the Midwest League in strikeouts and one of only three ten-game winners in the league.

Granier (10-6) took the loss despite allowing just three singles over seven impressive innings. He entered the fifth inning with a no-hitter intact when he beaned Jeff McVaney with a pitch to start the frame. After a bounce-out moved the runner to second, the hit batsman came back to haunt Granier when Pat Leyland delivered a single up the middle that brought McVaney home.

The Whitecaps' first hit of the game led to the only run allowed by Granier, putting West Michigan in front, 1-0.

That turned out to be enough for Tommy Collier, Slade Smith and Michael Torrealba.

Collier (9-6) matched Granier zero for zero over five scoreless innings, giving up just three singles and allowing only one baserunner to reach second base. The Whitecaps' starter struck out three, walked one and picked off one runner to cruise through the first half of the ballgame.

Smith followed with three shutout frames of relief. The only two hits he allowed came with two outs in the seventh and gave the Bees runners at the corners. West Michigan wiggled out of the jam when Burlington attempted a double steal, but the baserunning play was defended brilliantly as the 'Caps ended the inning with an out at the plate.

Before Torrealba finished things off with a perfect ninth inning, the 'Caps blew the game open with a controversial rally in the bottom of the eighth.

Ahead by just a 1-0 score, the bases were loaded with nobody when Eugenio Suarez ripped a low line drive up the middle. Second baseman Michael Fabiaschi knocked the ball down but could not make the catch, allowing a key insurance run to score from third as Suarez reached first base safely. Fabiaschi picked the ball up and flipped it to second for a force out, and it looked like Burlington would get out of the inning with Chad Wright caught in a rundown between second and third. As he was tagged out, however, umpire Clay Park stopped the play and ruled obstruction on shortstop Sean Jamieson, granting Wright third base and extending the inning.

After a lengthy argument from Bees' acting manager Juan Navarette, Lance Durham took advantage of the extra out and blasted a three-run homer to right for the comfortable 5-0 cushion.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with the second game of a three-game series against the Burlington Bees on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. RHP Marcelo Carreno (4-7, 3.87) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP A.J. Cole (4-2, 2.30) of Burlington. In addition to a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day, there will be a special appearance by Clifford the Big Red Dog thanks to WGVU and kids can run the bases after the game courtesy of Bob Evans. 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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