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West Michigan Whitecaps

Green's Early Homer Not Enough In 2-1 Loss

August 15, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps got a first-inning home run by Dean Green and a solid pitching performance by Jake Thompson on Thursday night, but it was not enough to avoid another tough loss with a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Lansing Lugnuts.

West Michigan (24-26, 57-63) has lost five of their last six games, falling to 3-8 on the year against their in-state rivals from Lansing (21-32, 53-69).

Scoring first has been an issue in recent games for the Whitecaps, who had allowed the opposition win the race to the scoreboard in each of their first 12 games this month. Green's solo homer with two outs in the bottom of the first gave West Michigan a 1-0 lead, clearing the roof of the picnic deck in right field with a towering blast.

But, as it turned out, West Michigan was unable to scratch across another run.

Lansing pulled even in the fourth, though Thompson nearly wiggled out of a bases-loaded, nobody-out jam. After back-to-back strikeouts of Chris Hawkins and Emilio Guerrero, the 19-year-old right-hander fell behind Kellen Sweeney and walked him on five pitches to force in the game-tying run.

Thompson finished his night with five solid innings of one-run baseball, allowing three hits and striking out eight. Lansing starter Daniel Norris was equally effective, yielding one run on four hits and also fanning eight over five innings.

The 1-1 deadlock persisted as the game turned into a battle of the bullpens, and was ultimately decided during a rollercoaster seventh inning.

With Angel Nesbitt pitching for the Whitecaps in the top of the seventh, Guerrero reached base on a leadoff single. He subsequently scored the go-ahead run on a double to deep right-center by Sweeney, who was gunned down at third base trying to stretch for a triple. As the inning unfolded, West Michigan dodged further damage by cutting down a run at the plate and stranding the bases loaded to stay within a 2-1 margin.

In the bottom of the frame, the 'Caps threatened to tie the score when a leadoff walk and an error allowed Austin Green to reach second base with nobody out. Connor Harrell followed with a single to right, but Green was gunned down at the plate by right fielder Chris Hawkins to stymie the potential game-tying rally.

That turned out to be the last good run-scoring opportunity of the night for the Whitecaps, who could not capitalize on leadoff baserunners in the sixth, seventh or eighth innings.

Efrain Nieves (2-2) earned the win for Lansing with two shutout innings of relief. Nesbitt (3-4) took the loss with one run in the seventh, his lone inning of work.

Arik Sikula (18) worked a 1-2-3 ninth for the save, striking out the final two batters of the night to slam the door shut.

The Whitecaps wrap up their six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. game on Friday night against the Lansing Lugnuts. RHP Endrys Briceno (7-7, 3.81) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Eric Brown (0-2, 3.38) for Lansing on a Tiger Friday featuring an appearance by Enos Cabell, a pre-game Tigers' hat giveaway, and Family Fare fireworks. 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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