'Caps Dominate in Biggest Win of the Year
Published on July 11, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps exploded for nine runs during a two-out rally in the bottom of the seventh inning on Thursday, claiming their most lopsided victory of the year with a 13-1 rout over the Clinton LumberKings at Fifth Third Ballpark.
West Michigan (9-11, 42-48) established new 2013 season-highs for runs in a game (13), margin of victory (12), runs in an inning (9) and hits in an inning (7) while equaling their season-high for hits in a game (16). Four Whitecaps' pitchers also combined to limit the Clinton (10-10, 43-46) offense to just five hits in a dominant pitching performance highlighted by Jeff Thompson's first professional win and Montreal Robertson's return from the Disabled List.
West Michigan scored single runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings to slowly build a 4-1 lead before blowing the game open with 10 consecutive two-out baserunners during the nine-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh.
With two outs and a runner at second, Jason King started the onslaught by splitting the gap with an RBI-triple to left-center against Cameron Copping. Connor Harrell followed with a double off the wall in right while Lance Durham clubbed an opposite-field double over the left fielder, each of which drove in a run. After Jake Stewart laced an RBI-single to left for a fourth consecutive run-scoring hit, Copping was lifted for fellow reliever Mark Bordonaro.
Things did not get any better for Bordonaro, who allowed the first six batters he faced to reach base on two walks, two hit batsmen and two singles. By the time King dumped a two-run single into left-center for his second and third RBI of the frame, the nine-run, seven-hit inning propelled the Whitecaps to a commanding 13-1 advantage.
Lance Durham led the way with a 3-for-5 performance that included a pair of doubles and his seventh home run of the year. Danry Vasquez and Jake Stewart joined him with three-hit games while Jason King went 2-for-4 with four RBI. Durham and Jeff Holm drove in a pair of runs. Everybody in the lineup contributed with offensive production as eight different Whitecaps hit safely, eight different Whitecaps scored runs, and seven different Whitecaps recorded at least one RBI.
Meanwhile, Thompson (1-0) earned his first professional win to highlight a strong effort on the mound that was overshadowed by the barrage of late runs. The Detroit Tigers' third-round pick in the 2013 draft was making just his fourth pro outing since earning Big East Pitcher of the Year honors during his final season at the University of Louisville.
Robertson got the start, making his first Midwest League appearance in two months after an extended stay on the DL. He held the LumberKings to just one unearned run over four frames.
Thompson took over in the fifth and retired nine of the 10 batters that he faced, striking out four over three scoreless innings. Angel Nesbitt and Guido Knudson each contributed shutout innings to finish the job as the bullpen combined to throw five scoreless frames and retire 15 of the 17 batters that they faced.
Eighteen-year-old Victor Sanchez (1-4) suffered the loss for Clinton after giving up three runs on seven hits over five innings.
The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Friday night against the Clinton LumberKings. RHP Edgar De La Rosa (5-3, 6.53) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Rigoberto Garcia (N/A) of the LumberKings. Promotions include a Tigers' t-shirt giveaway for the first 1,000 fans and a Tiger Friday featuring former 20-game winner Bill Gullickson. 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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