'Caps Make it Four of Five

April 17, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Alexis Espinoza went 2-for-4 with a homer and two runs batted in as the West Michigan Whitecaps opened a three-game home series with a 4-2 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (5-5) improved to .500 on the year with their fourth win in five ballgames and will look to clinch a third consecutive series victory on Sunday afternoon against Great Lakes (6-4).

The Whitecaps drew first blood in the bottom of the second inning. With one away and a 1-2 count, Espinoza drove a fly ball the other way that carried over the wall for a solo homer and a 1-0 lead.

West Michigan extended the advantage in the fifth. Wade Gaynor reached base on an infield single to open the inning and moved to second on a base hit by Avisail Garcia. One out later, Espinoza drove in his second run of the evening with a single to right. Luis Salas followed with a run-scoring knock to left, and a bases-loaded walk later in the frame pushed the lead to 4-0.

Great Lakes cut into the deficit in the top of the sixth. After a leadoff walk to Christian Lara, Brian Cavazos-Galvez and Jerry Sands clubbed back-to-back run-scoring triples. West Michigan was ultimately able to cut down Sands at the plate, maintaining a 4-2 edge.

Ramon Lebron (1-0) earned the win with a solid outing that included five strikeouts over five innings of two-run ball. Victor Larez (1) did the rest, twirling four shutout innings for the save while allowing the Whitecaps bullpen to get some much-needed rest.

Elisaul Pimentel (0-1) suffered the loss for Great Lakes after yielding three runs on six hits over four frames.

The Whitecaps continue their series with the Great Lakes Loons with a 1:00 p.m. start on Sunday, April 18, as RHP Trevor Feeney (1-0, 1.38) takes the mound against RHP Josh Wall (0-0, 6.00). The afternoon game will be a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day and the first 1,000 kids will eat free. Also, Penguins Books presents Mike Lupica's "Bat Boy" book samplers for the first 1,000 fans. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Midwest League Stories from April 17, 2010

• 'Caps Make it Four of Five - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Wild Walk Off Prevail Snappers' Win - Beloit Sky Carp
• TinCaps end Captains' perfection, 6-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Hot Rods Drop Opener In Lansing 7-1 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• Kernels offense strikes early and often in 14-6 rout of Cougars - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• 'Caps Top Great Lakes, 4-2 - Great Lakes Loons
• River Bandits Stay Perfect At Home, Take Game One With Rattlers - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Dragons Fall to South Bend, 6-3 - Dayton Dragons
• Bandits take series opener - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Losing Streak Over, Hawks Post First W in 2010 - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Kane County crushed by Cedar Rapids in series opener - Kane County Cougars
• Wild Pitch Hands Game to Beloit in 11th - Clinton LumberKings
• Lugnuts cool down Hot Rods, 7-1 - Lansing Lugnuts
• Four-Run Lead Evaporates In Peoria - Burlington Bees
• Chiefs Win Home Opener 7-6 on Saturday - Peoria Chiefs
• Erasmo Ramirez Joins LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
• Gonzales Third Straight Home-run Game Lifts Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
• Five-Run Rally In 11th Caps Improbable Comeback - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Wilking Rodriguez Dazzles With 9 Strikeouts - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• April 16 - Peoria 7, Kernels 4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Bees Break Up No-No In 9th, Fall 9-0 To Wisconsin - Burlington Bees
• Sams Homers Three Times, Including 11th Inning Walk-Off - Clinton LumberKings
• Defense struggles in 7-4 loss to Chiefs - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Bandits blow eight run lead - Quad Cities River Bandits

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.

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