Caps Win Opener Against Error-Prone Cougars
July 26, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
GENEVA, IL - In the opener of a highly-anticipated three-game series between the Midwest League's top two teams, the West Michigan Whitecaps landed the first blow with a 7-5 win over the Kane County Cougars on Saturday night at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.
Meeting for the only time this season during the final weekend of interdivisional play, West Michigan (22-12, 63-41) and Kane County (22-12, 67-37) are both playoff-bound thanks to first-half division championships in their respective Midwest League divisions.
In a pressure-packed atmosphere in front of 10,741 rowdy fans in suburban Chicago, both teams were sloppy early as the lead changed hands multiple times. But, while the Cougars' miscues continued en-route to a season-high five errors, the Whitecaps were able to regain control with pitching and defense. It was an uncharacteristic night for Kane County, who entered play with a stellar 41-12 home record and were tied for the best fielding percentage in the league.
West Michigan overcame early deficits of 1-0 and 4-3 to grab a 5-4 lead in the top of the fifth. After the half-way point, the Whitecaps' pitching and defense stabilized to maintain the lead.
Austin Kubitza (9-1) worked around a leadoff double in the fifth and induced an inning-ending double play ball in the sixth to finish his outing strong. The right-hander hit a batter and uncorked two wild pitches in the first two innings and was charged with four runs on six hits, but induced two key groundball double plays and struck out four to keep his team in front and earn his ninth win of the year.
The 'Caps added single insurance runs in the seventh and eighth to pad the lead to 7-4. In the seventh, a fly ball lost in the sky led to a triple for Dominic Ficociello, who later swiped home on a double steal. In the eighth, Wynton Bernard drew a one-out walk and took third on an errant pickoff throw - Kane County's fifth error of the night - before Javier Betancourt brought him home with a sacrifice fly.
Joe Mantiply took over in the seventh and quickly found himself in a jam, but worked out of it by inducing an inning-ending double play with men at the corners. It was the third double play turned by the Whitecaps.
Kane County broke through in the eighth with an RBI-single by Kevin Brown that chased Mantiply from the game, but the Whitecaps' countered with a pair of closers to finish the job.
With a 7-5 lead, men at the corners and just one out in the eighth, Adam Ravenelle came out of the bullpen in search of a five-out save. In just his second Midwest League appearance, the College World Series hero struck out Will Remillard on three pitches before inducing an inning-ending fly-out from Chesny Young.
Ravenelle came back out for the ninth and went to a full count against Shawon Dunston, Jr., but was suddenly removed from the ballgame due to a right finger sprain. That forced Julio Felix into unexpected duty with a full count and the potential game-tying run in the on-deck circle.
But Felix came in throwing gas, firing all five of his pitches for strikes and punching out both Dunston and Carlos Penalver to end the game. The bounce-back outing clinched the team-leading 10th save of the season for Felix, who lost his 23-inning scoreless streak - a franchise-record for a reliever - during his previous outing on Thursday night in Clinton.
The Whitecaps' offense was led by Ficociello, who was 3-for-4 with a double and a triple, and Willy Adames, who was 2-for-3 with two RBI.
The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip with the middle game of a three-game series against the Kane County Cougars on Sunday afternoon at 2:00 p.m. ET. RHP Jon Maciel (4-4, 3.67) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Tyler Skulina (4-6, 3.38) of Kane County. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 29, featuring 10-cent hot dogs, entertainment from the ZOOperstars and the Van Andel Institute's Purple Night. 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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