MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

CAPS KEEP HITTING, ROLL TO 9-1 ROUT

Published on July 13, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The suddenly-hot West Michigan Whitecaps kept rolling with a 9-1 victory over the Kane County Cougars on Saturday night, pounding out a dozen hits in front of an enthusiastic crowd of 7,571 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (11-11, 44-48) improved their second-half record to .500 while winning for the fifth time in their last seven games. Despite a prospect-laden roster, Kane County (4-17, 34-53) scuffled to their sixth consecutive loss.

The Whitecaps have rattled off three consecutive wins by outscoring their opponents 25-4 since Thursday. During that time, the offense has averaged 8.3 runs and 11.7 hits per game while the pitching staff has posted a 0.67 ERA (27IP/2ER), including 14 scoreless innings from the bullpen.

The Cougars will counter on Sunday with right-hander Scott Baker, the former Minnesota Twins' starting pitcher - now with the Chicago Cubs' organization - who is scheduled to pitch on a Major League rehabilitation assignment as he works his way back from Tommy John surgery.

The Whitecaps jumped in front early on Saturday during a sloppy first three innings.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the first, West Michigan took advantage of a pair of fielding miscues to load the bases with one out. Connor Harrell tied the score with a sacrifice fly and Lance Durham followed with a two-run single to give the 'Caps a 3-1 lead.

Another Kane County error in the second led to two more runs as the Whitecaps seized a 5-1 advantage. At that point in the game, all six combined runs were unearned thanks to a total of four errors. David Gonzalez added a two-out single in the third that plated Durham for a 6-1 lead, accounting for one of six Whitecaps' runs that scored with two outs.

Things settled down over the middle innings as the West Michigan pitching staff cruised the rest of the way. Reliever Calvin Drummond (1-1) entered in the fifth inning and fired off three hitless frames to earn the win. Josh Turley and Angel Nesbitt finished with a single inning apiece to complete a shutout effort from the relief corps.

The 'Caps blew the game open with another two out rally in the seventh. Durham was at second when Gonzalez yanked another two-out hit inside the right field line to score the runner. After a single by Danry Vasquez, Jared Reaves laced a two-run double to left that cemented the 9-1 final.

Five different West Michigan batters registered multiple hits in the game, and three different Whitecaps' drove in multiple runs.

Starter Jake Thompson did not figure into the decision after four innings of work. He struck out seven - including six over the first two innings - while walking four but limited the Cougars to just one unearned run on three hits.

Kane County's Tayler Scott (4-5) suffered the loss. The native of South Africa was victimized by suspect defense during his four innings on the mound, allowing six runs - just one of which was earned - on eight hits.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon against the Kane County Cougars. RHP Endrys Briceno (4-6, 4.33) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against former Minnesota Twins' RHP Scott Baker, who is slated to make a rehab start as a member of the Chicago Cubs' organization. Promotions include an appearance by WGVU's Buddy the Dinosaur and a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day. 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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Midwest League Stories from July 13, 2013


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