Sports stats

MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Beloit pitchers dominate the Whitecaps

May 23, 2007 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


BELOIT, WI - The Whitecaps series in Beloit has become a tale of two teams headed in opposite directions. Beloit has moved within a game of the best record in the Midwest League with eight consecutive wins, while West Michigan has dropped out of wild card position with four straight losses following a 5-1 Snappers victory on Wednesday.

Brian Kirwan made his first appearance above the rookie level as the starting pitcher for Beloit and fit in nearly perfectly with on the top pitching staff in the Midwest League. Kirwan threw five innings and allowed just one hit - an infield single by Gorkys Hernandez to lead off the fourth.

Reliever Danny Vais threw 2.2 hitless innings before he left with the game with an injury. Although Aaron Craig allowed two doubles and a run in the ninth inning, the Snappers combined to hold the Whitecaps to a season-low three hits.

Beloit built a 5-0 lead with single runs in the first, third and fifth then a two run homer by Chris Parmelee in the eighth.

Tom Brookens, the Whitecaps manager, was ejected for the first time this season in the fifth inning when the umpires conferred and reversed a call.

With the bases loaded and one out, Beloit's Danny Berg hit a sharp ground ball to Santo De Leon near the bag at third. De Leon threw home. Catcher James Skelton bobbled the ball and did not recover until an instant before Yancarlos Ortiz slid to the plate.

The home plate umpire ruled that Ortiz was out on a force, but Snappers manager Jeff Smith argued and the call was changed when the umps ruled that De Leon had touched third for one out and in doing so, eliminated the force at home plate.

During the ensuing argument, Brookens was thrown out of the game.

Skelton drove in the only Whitecaps run of the game when he doubled to drive in Deik Scram, who had doubled to start the ninth.

Duane Below pitched six innings and gave up three runs. He took the loss for West Michigan. Jose Fragoso made his 2007 Whitecaps debut and allowed two run in tow innings of relief. Fragoso was promoted from extended spring training early in the day because reliever Phil Napolitan was placed on the disabled list.

Good Riddance: The final game for the Whitecaps in Beloit during the regular season will be Thursday. West Michigan will try to avoid a four game sweep. LHP Chris Cody (3-3, 1.47) will be on the mound for the 'Caps against Snappers RHP Cole Devries (4-1, 1.35). The Davenport University Career Startup Show begins at 7:20 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL, the Whitecaps Radio Network and at wbbl.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from May 23, 2007


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

Other Recent West Michigan Whitecaps Stories



Sports Statistics from the Stats Crew
OurSports Central