MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Bounce-Back Win Puts West Michigan Back In First

Published on May 13, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


MIDLAND, MI - Pitching and defense has been the winning formula for the West Michigan Whitecaps this season.

After suffering the worst defeat in franchise history on Monday night, the Whitecaps got back to the basics in a 4-2 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.

West Michigan (23-15) jumped back into first place with the win, moving a half-game ahead of the Dayton Dragons as the two clubs continue to battle for the top spot in the MWL-East standings. The 'Caps will try to clinch a sixth consecutive series victory in the rubber match of their three-game series against Great Lakes (17-21) at 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday morning.

Tim Remes helped the Whitecaps build an early lead on Tuesday, clubbing a two-run homer in the second inning and adding a sacrifice fly in the fourth. In between, Dominic Ficociello chipped in with an RBI-single in the third as West Michigan built a 4-1 lead.

Pitching and defense did the rest.

Austin Kubitza (5-0) stayed perfect on the season and became the first Midwest League pitcher to earn his fifth win with a gritty performance. The 6-foot-5 right-hander struck out the first four batters he faced before surrendering a solo homer to Joey Curletta in the second. That home run and a bunt single were the only hits against him until the sixth, when Great Lakes mounted their most dangerous threat with the bases loaded and nobody out.

Kubitza responded by striking out Curletta for a second time, but Josmer Cordero countered with a run-scoring single that trimmed the Whitecaps' lead to 4-2. The hurler then battled Alex Santana to a nine-pitch at-bat before striking him out swinging.

On his 103rd pitch of the night, Kubitza registered his league-leading 54th strikeout and walked off the mound with the lead. He finished the outing with eight punch-outs over 5.2 innings, giving up two runs on five hits and three walks.

Reliever Joe Mantiply took over against pinch-hitter Dillon Moyer with the bases loaded and two outs. Moyer sent a shot to the right side of the infield, but second baseman Javier Betancourt handled the short-hop and threw to first to strand the bases loaded.

Mantiply added scoreless innings in the seventh and eighth, but not without incident. After Paul Hoenecke clubbed a one-out double in the eighth, Curletta drilled a liner to deep left field. Raph Rhymes raced back and made a leaping, sprawling catch on the warning track to rob Curletta of extra bases and stymie the rally.

In the ninth, Zac Reininger (2) shrugged off a leadoff walk and struck out the next three batters he faced to earn his second save in as many tries. That capped a 12-strikeout performance for the Whitecaps' pitching staff.

Zachary Bird (2-5) was charged with four runs - three earned - on seven hits over six innings in the loss.

The Whitecaps wrap up their trip to Dow Diamond with the finale of a three-game road series against the Great Lakes Loons at 10:35 a.m. on Wednesday morning. RHP Jon Maciel (1-0, 2.76) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Victor Arano (2-2, 6.12) of Great Lakes. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be on Thursday night at 6:35 p.m. featuring $2 beer, Pepsi products and hot dogs on an Altogas Thrifty Thursday. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from May 13, 2014


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.

OurSports Central