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West Michigan Whitecaps

Holm Delivers As Whitecaps Complete Sweep

July 18, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jeff Holm delivered a two-out, two-run single in the bottom of the eighth inning on Friday, giving the West Michigan Whitecaps their only lead of the night in a thrilling 3-2 victory over the Peoria Chiefs at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (18-9, 59-38) extended their winning streak to seven games while moving into sole possession of first place in the Midwest League's second-half Eastern Division standings. After trailing for nearly the entire night, the Whitecaps stunned Peoria (16-11, 53-43) late to clinch their ninth series sweep of the season, including sweeps in four of their last six series'.

The 'Caps were behind 2-0 at the seventh inning stretch before Bennett Pickar broke up the shutout with a two-out double in the bottom of the seventh that scored Willy Adames all the way from first.

In the bottom of the eighth, trailing 2-1, West Michigan went back to work. Consecutive singles by Wynton Bernard and Javier Betancourt put runners at the corners with nobody out, and Betancourt later took advantage of a drawn-in infield to steal second base. Peoria's Josh Lucas nearly pitched his way out of the jam, notching impressive back-to-back strikeouts against the third and fourth hitters in the lineup, Raph Rhymes and Dominic Ficociello.

But Holm put together the key at-bat with two outs, yanking a pair of near-home run balls just foul while working the count full. On the pay-off pitch, the 25-year-old veteran ripped the go-ahead single into right field, plating both Bernard and Betancourt to give the Whitecaps a sudden 3-2 lead.

Despite the turn of events, West Michigan was not out of the woods yet.

The Chiefs countered by loading the bases in the ninth against Zac Reininger (8). A leadoff walk to Richy Pedroza and singles by Rafael Medina and Vaughn Bryan had Peoria poised to erase their one-run deficit with just one out in the final frame.

But Reininger came through in the clutch, outlasting C.J. McElroy to induce an infield pop-out on the 10th pitch of a lengthy at-bat before getting Justin Ringo to bounce out to short to leave the bases juiced.

Reininger's save capped an impressive series by the bullpen. The relief corps worked 12 innings without allowing an earned run during the three-game set and is now seven-for-seven in save opportunities during the seven-game winning streak. Montreal Robertson (5-5) earned the win on Friday, working three innings of relief with just one unearned run allowed.

Whitecaps' starter Buck Farmer also pitched well in a no-decision. Though he missed out on a shot to become the Midwest League's first 10-game winner of the season, Farmer yielded just one run on four hits over five innings of work. After allowing the first batter of the game to triple and score, Farmer gave up just one hit and no runs after the opening frame.

Lucas (1-1) took the loss and a blown save after serving up two runs in his lone inning out of the bullpen for Peoria.

The Whitecaps continue their six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night against the Burlington Bees. RHP Austin Kubitza (8-1, 2.41) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Garrett Nuss (4-1, 4.00) of Burlington. The ballgame will be preceded by the first ever 3D printed t-ball game and followed by a spectacular Family Fare fireworks show. Season, 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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