MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

'Caps Need Season-High 16 Hits for Wild 13-11 Win

Published on June 26, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps needed every one of their season-high 16 hits on Tuesday night, rallying for four runs with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to survive a wild 13-11 win over the Bowling Green Hot Rods at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (3-2, 39-36) and Bowling Green (3-2, 41-34) combined for 24 runs and 30 hits in a game that lasted three hours and 46 minutes. Each team notched a six-run inning and each team's closer suffered a blown save.

The Whitecaps failed to hold leads of 6-1 and 9-4 before ultimately coming back from an 11-9 deficit. The Hot Rods grabbed the late lead thanks to a six-run inning in the top of the eighth, part of a stretch in which they scored seven unanswered runs to turn a five-run deficit into a two-run lead.

Suddenly trailing 11-9, the Whitecaps mounted a resilient comeback in the bottom of the eighth.

Colin Kaline started the frame with a single but each of the next two batters struck out. Jeff Holm extended the inning with a tremendous nine-pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk and chased reliever Andrew Bellatti - who had thrown 3.2 scoreless innings up to that point - from the game.

Hot Rods' closer Austin Hubbard came in looking for a save, but he was greeted by Aaron Westlake with a base hit through the right side that cut the deficit to one. Jason King followed with the game-tying hit, a liner to left that plated Holm.

That set the stage for Lance Durham to deliver the game-winning blow. With a full count and the runners in motion, Durham drilled an opposite-field double down the left field line that scored both runners to recapture a 13-11 lead.

After blowing a save opportunity in the top of the eighth, Dan Bennett (4-1) worked around a pair of baserunners in the ninth inning to earn the win. Hubbard (1-5) was also charged with a blown save while suffering the loss for Bowling Green.

Durham led the West Michigan offense with a pair of doubles and four RBI, while Luis Castillo, Westlake and King each turned in three-hit performances.

The Whitecaps seized control early with a six-run outburst in the bottom of the second, highlighted by Kaline's squeeze-bunt and Steven Moya's two-run triple to establish a 6-1 advantage. The edge was cut to 6-4 before Moya added a run-scoring hit in the fourth and later came home on a balk. Durham added an RBI-double to put the 'Caps in front, 9-4.

The Whitecaps conclude a six-game homestand at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday night with the finale of a three-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. RHP Wilsen Palacios (8-4, 3.68) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against LHP Ryan Carpenter (7-3, 3.92) of Bowling Green in a game that will feature post-game fireworks and the Long Haul Bombers. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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



Midwest League Stories from June 26, 2012


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