MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Holm, Martinez Lead The Way In 11-3 Rout

Published on May 15, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


DAYTON, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps broke out of their offensive doldrums in a big way on Wednesday night, exploding for 11 runs on 12 hits in an 11-3 rout of the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Field.

West Michigan (16-20) will try to clinch their first road series victory in the rubber match of the three-game set on Thursday, the final game of a season-long nine-game, three-city road trip.

The Dayton (13-25) pitching staff - ranked last in the Midwest League - proved to be just what the doctor ordered for the Whitecaps. The West Michigan offense had managed just five total runs during a brief three-game losing streak, but everybody got into the act during Wednesday night's blowout win.

Jeff Holm led the way with a 2-for-4 night that included a home run, a triple and five RBI. Mario Martinez also had a big day, going 2-for-4 with three RBI and a titanic two-run homer in the eighth that provided the exclamation point to an eight-run outburst between the sixth and seventh innings.

The game was tied at 3-3 when the 'Caps surged ahead in the sixth.

Zach Kirksey led off the frame with a double and advanced to third on a fly out. With the infield in, Martinez chopped a bouncing ball over the shortstop for the go-ahead hit. Later in the frame, the bases were loaded with two outs when Holm belted a high fly ball off the wall in center field for a bases-clearing triple that made it a 7-3 game.

West Michigan put the game out of reach in the seventh, adding four more runs before an out was recorded. Jake Stewart ripped a two-run double past the third baseman, and on the very next pitch Martinez unloaded on a towering fly ball to left that cleared the ballpark and bounced into the street.

The two-run bomb made it eight unanswered runs for the Whitecaps, who tied their season-high for runs scored in the 11-3 victory.

Josh Turley (4-1) earned the win out of the bullpen, firing off 2.1 scoreless frames in relief of starter Endrys Briceno. Turley combined with Brennan Smith and Angel Nesbitt as the bullpen threw 5.1 shutout innings. Smith also extended his scoreless innings streak to 19.1 innings, just three frames shy of the franchise record for a reliever set by Ian Ostlund in 2003.

Joey Housey (0-1) took the loss for Dayton. After entering play having allowed just one run on one hit through his first three outings of the season, the right-hander was battered for eight runs - seven earned - on seven hits in just two frames on Wednesday night.

The Whitecaps wrap up their nine-game, three-city road trip with the finale of a three-game series against the Dayton Dragons at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night. RHP Edgar De La Rosa (1-0, 6.05) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against RHP Pedro Diaz (0-3, 5.30) of the Dragons. The 'Caps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday night at 6:35 p.m., a ballgame that will feature an Avisail Garcia bobblehead doll giveaway for the first 1,000 fans. 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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Midwest League Stories from May 15, 2013


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