MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Break Out of Funk with 15-3 Rout

Published on June 30, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


SOUTH BEND, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps entered play in a deep offensive funk on Wednesday night, but exploded to set season-highs for runs, hits and margin of victory during a 15-3 blowout win over the South Bend Silver Hawks at Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium.

After scoring just two runs in their previous six games, West Michigan (1-5, 27-48) scored three times before an out was recorded on their way to a six-run first inning Wednesday night. In avoiding a three-game sweep against South Bend (3-2, 33-40), the Whitecaps pounded out a season-high 18 hits as all nine starters scored runs and eight of the nine recorded multi-hit games and picked up an RBI.

From the opening frame, the Whitecaps looked nothing like a team that entered play the lowest scoring in the Midwest League.

Jamie Johnson started the first-inning rally with a leadoff single, and a walk and an error helped load the bases with nobody out. The Whitecaps followed with station-to-station baseball as three consecutive singles from 2010 draftees Tony Plagman, Robert Brantly and Clay Jones drove in a run each. Michael Rockett, batting seventh in the order, brought home a fourth run with a fielder's choice groundout that marked the first out of the game. Jimmy Gulliver added an RBI-single and Hernan Perez capped the rally with a run-scoring groundout, as West Michigan sent 11 men to the plate and took a 6-0 lead.

That was just the tip of the iceberg.

In the third inning, Jeff Rowland singled home a run in his Midwest League debut and Wade Gaynor followed with a two-run single. The Silver Hawks countered with three runs in the bottom of the frame, but the Whitecaps went back to work in the fifth. Rowland checked in with another RBI-single and a wild pitch with the bases loaded pushed the Whitecaps lead to 11-3.

With the rout underway, the Silver Hawks opted to throw the final two innings with a pair of infielders on the mound. They began the night with spot starter Randy Rodriguez (0-2), who got knocked around for six runs - four earned - on five hits and lasted just two-thirds of an inning. After three other relievers took their turns, second baseman David Narodowski came in to pitch the eighth.

In the ninth, Narodowski swapped positions with shortstop Victor Estevez who took the mound. After retiring the first two batters he faced, Estevez hit a man and issued a walk to propel the ‘Caps to another rally. Robert Brantly promptly doubled home both runners for West Michigan's first extra-base hit of the night, and Clay Jones followed with a mammoth two-run homer - the first of his pro career - to make it a 15-3 game.

Silver Hawks Manager Mark Haley then sent Estevez back to shortstop and brought Narodowski back to the hill for the final out of the game.

Richard Zumaya (1-0) earned the win for West Michigan with 3.1 innings of scoreless relief after starter Giovanni Soto was removed due to an apparent arm injury in the third inning.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 1, with the opener of a three-game series in Lake County. RHP Trevor Feeney (6-7, 3.46) is scheduled to start for West Michigan against LHP Matt Packer (6-3, 1.88) of the Captains. The ‘Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Sunday, July 4, with an Independence Day celebration against Dayton that will feature an exhilarating fireworks display presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. The contest will also be a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day and the first 1,000 fans will receive t-shirts thanks to Bissell.

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