Whitecaps Outlast Rain, Cougars
July 14, 2016 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
GENEVA, IL -The West Michigan Whitecaps had to outlast mother nature and a late rally to defeat the Kane County Cougars 7-6 Wednesday night in front of 6,611 fans at Fifth Third Bank Ballpark.
The Whitecaps built an early six-run lead in the contest. Jose Zambrano's first homer of 2016 - a two-run shot - gave the team a 2-0 edge. After a pair run-scoring singles by Brett Pirtle throughout the next two frames, the 'Caps took a 6-0 lead into the late innings. The Cougars rallied in the sixth and seventh to score four times highlighted by a two-run single by Austin Byler to bring the score to 6-4. In the ninth, Pirtle blasted his first home run of the year to extend West Michigan's lead to 7-4 before the Cougars plated a pair of the bottom of the frame featuring an RBI-triple by Colin Bray to close the gap to 7-6, but the came no closer as the 'Caps got key outs late to close out a 7-6 victory.
Spenser Watkins (2-0) breezed through five innings to record his second win before running into trouble in the sixth, while Emilo Vargas (0-4) gave up five runs in three frames to take his fourth loss. Ryan Milton struck out the only two batters he faced in the ninth to earn his first save. West Michigan improves to 9-9 in the second half standings, and 48-37 overall. Kane County drops to 40-50 overall and 7-13 in the second half season standings. The game 3:18, and beginning with an additional 1:53 rain delay. Pirtle, Zambrano and Arvicent Perez each had three hits for the 'Caps in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this three-game set against the Kane County Cougars Thursday night at 7:30p.m. Pitcher Eudis Idrogo gets the start for West Michigan against fellow lefty Carlos Hernandez for the Cougars. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:20p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any 2016 home game by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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Midwest League Stories from July 14, 2016
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