MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Caps Lose In 11, Fall Short Of Sweep

Published on July 20, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps missed out on a series sweep Friday night, rallying late to take a brief lead before ultimately falling, 9-6, after 11 innings of play against the Peoria Chiefs at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (14-13, 50-47) got another big game from Eugenio Suarez, who went 3-for-4 with a pair of RBI. Peoria (11-16, 46-50) was able to out-hit their mistakes, however, pounding out 14 hits and homering twice to overcome six errors.

The score was tied at 5-5 in the top of the 11th when Bijan Rademacher led off with a hit to left and Wes Darvill reached base on a bunt-single.

With runners at first and second and nobody out, the Whitecaps put on the wheel play to defend against an anticipated bunt attempt from Yaniel Cabezas - but Cabezas pulled back the bat, took a full swing, and bounced a single through the middle to score the go-ahead run. As the inning continued, Pin-Chieh Chen added a two-run single and Zeke DeVoss delivered a sacrifice fly to put Peoria ahead, 9-5.

The Chiefs held on for the victory, making a winner out of reliever Jeff Antigua (1-0) following 1.2 sparkling innings of relief. Dan Bennett (4-2) took the loss for West Michigan, allowing four runs - three earned - in the 11th inning after firing off scoreless frames in the ninth and 10th.

Despite trailing through the first part of the ballgame, the Whitecaps jumped ahead with a five-run outburst between the sixth and seventh innings.

Down 2-0 in the sixth, Jeff McVaney clubbed a two-run triple to the wall in center field that tied the score.

One inning later, West Michigan was down 4-2 before stringing together four consecutive two-out singles. The big hit was a two-run knock to left field by Suarez that drove home a pair of runs and gave the Whitecaps their first lead of the night at 5-4.

In the eighth, heralded Chiefs' prospect Javier Baez tied the game with his wheels. After a leadoff single, his base-stealing potential induced a balk from Whitecaps' reliever Jade Todd. Baez proceeded to steal third base, eventually scoring the game-tying run on a two-out single by Rademacher that bounced in front of the outstretched glove of a diving McVaney in right field.

With the game tied at 5-5, the 'Caps had runners in scoring position in both the ninth and 10th innings. On both occasions, Antigua used swinging strikeouts to get out of the jams and prolong the ballgame.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with the opener of a three-game series against the Burlington Bees on Saturday night at 7:00 p.m. RHP Tommy Collier (8-6, 2.50) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Drew Granier (10-5, 3.25) of Burlington. Promotions include a baseball giveaway for the first 1,000 fans, an Olympics Night theme, and post-game fireworks. 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 20, 2012


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