MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Drop Game One as Series Shifts to Lake County

Published on September 8, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps' remarkable 2010 season hit a bump in the road on Wednesday night with a 4-2 loss to the Lake County Captains in the first game of their best-of-three playoff series at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan, who finished the regular season on a 27-13 tear to earn the Eastern Division's second-half wild card, was stymied by a dominant Lake County bullpen on Wednesday night. As the series shifts to Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio, the Whitecaps will need to win two straight road games on Thursday and Friday to keep their season alive.

Lake County's Adam Abraham started the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the third, but West Michigan countered in the bottom of the fourth. Jamie Johnson started the rally with a leadoff walk and moved to third on a double by Corey Jones. After Wade Gaynor was hit by a pitch to load the bases, Tony Plagman delivered a sacrifice fly that tied the score at 1-1.

The Whitecaps took a lead in the bottom of the sixth. Corey Jones, Gaynor and Plagman all singled to load the bases with nobody out. Avisail Garcia was retired on an infield blooper for the first out, but Clay Jones was hit by a pitch to force in a run as West Michigan jumped ahead, 2-1.

That turned out to be all the Whitecaps could muster. Rob Brantly's broken-bat bouncer to the right side turned into a force out at the plate, and Hernan Perez fouled out to the catcher to end the inning.

Moments later, the Captains took control in the top of the seventh. Jason Smit was hit by a pitch to open the inning and advanced to second on a sacrifice bunt. Argenis Martinez reached on a bloop-single to the right side that failed to clear the infield, setting the stage for Delvi Cid to tie the score with a run-scoring flare that dropped into right-center field. After a double steal put men at second and third, Tyler Holt checked in with the biggest hit of the night - a tie-breaking two-run single to left that gave Lake County the decisive 4-2 lead.

The Captains bullpen took over from there.

Francisco Jimenez (1-0) threw 1.2 scoreless innings to pick up the win after relieving starter Brett Brach, who was charged with two runs over five innings after retiring the first nine men he faced in order. Jose Flores added 1.1 frames and struck out all four batters he faced, while Preston Guilmet (1) tossed a perfect ninth inning for the save.

Jimenez, Flores and Guilmet combined for four scoreless innings and allowed just two hits, striking out four and retiring 11 of the last 12 batters of the game while collecting the win and the save.

Victor Larez (0-1) suffered the loss for the Whitecaps despite turning in a solid outing. Through six innings, the lone run against him was Abraham's first-inning homer. Lake County broke through in the seventh, however, as Larez allowed three hits and plunked a batter before being removed. He was charged with four runs on nine hits over 6.1 innings, striking out four and walking one in the loss.

The Whitecaps' first-round playoff series against the Lake County Captains will shift to Eastlake, Ohio, for the remainder of the best-of-three match-up at Classic Park. The second game will take place at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday as RHP Trevor Feeney takes the mound for West Michigan against LHP Vidal Nuno of Lake County. All of the action will be aired live on 107.3 WBBL-FM. If the Whitecaps are able to advance to the next round, the first game of the best-of-three Eastern Division championship will take place at Fifth Third Ballpark on Saturday, September 11. During the Altogas Thrifty Playoffs, fans can take advantage of $1 hot dogs and $2 beer, Pepsi products and pretzels at all playoff home games.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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



Midwest League Stories from September 8, 2010


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