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West Michigan Whitecaps

Holm's Ninth-Inning Walk-Off Caps Series Win

July 12, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jeff Holm's walk-off single with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning led the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 3-2 victory over the Clinton LumberKings on Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The win gave West Michigan (10-11, 43-48) a victory in the three-game series against Clinton (10-11, 43-47) as they continue their six-game homestand against another Western Division rival, the Chicago Cubs'-affiliated Kane County Cougars, over the weekend.

Friday night's thriller was tied at 2-2 heading into the bottom of the ninth inning.

Adolfo Reina started the game-winning rally by drawing a one-out walk from Oliver Garcia. The next batter, Harold Castro, fouled an 0-1 pitch off his leg and crumpled to the ground, eventually having to be removed due to injury.

That prompted manager Larry Parrish to call on Jared Reaves to pinch-hit with a daunting 0-2 count. Reaves, who rejoined the Whitecaps earlier in the day after flying in from Lakeland, Florida, promptly worked the count to 3-2 before lifting a flare over the first baseman's head for a single that put runners at first and third with just one out.

Clinton responded by intentionally walking Danry Vasquez to load the bases. Then, with the infield in, Garcia induced a bouncer to second from David Gonzalez that allowed Tim Lopes to throw home for a force out.

That brought Holm to the plate with the bags packed, two outs and a tie score in the bottom of the ninth. After falling behind in the count, the Michigan State product poked a 1-2 pitch back through the middle to plate Reaves for the walk-off run, sending a boisterous crowd of 6,485 home happy with the 3-2 victory.

Corey Knebel (1-0) earned his first professional victory with a scoreless top of the ninth inning. After issuing a leadoff walk, he induced a nifty 6-4-3 double play ball that was turned by Gonzalez and Castro up the middle to thwart the threat.

Garcia (5-4) suffered the loss after yielding the walk-off blow in the bottom of the ninth.

Throughout the evening, the game was a tightly-played affair.

Clinton got all of their offense from Ketel Marte and Dario Pizzano, with Pizzano driving in Marte with hits in the first and third innings as the LumberKings led by 1-0 and 2-1 scores.

On both occasions, the Whitecaps answered. Vasquez tripled and scored on a Gonzalez base hit in the first inning to make it a 1-1 game, and later in the evening a Connor Harrell double plated Jason King in the sixth to even the score at 2-2.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday night against the Kane County Cougars. RHP Jake Thompson (0-2, 3.27) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Tayler Scott (4-4, 4.35) of the Cougars. Promotions include a mini-bat giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, a celebration of the Whitecaps' 2004 championship club and post-game 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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