MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Champlin Nearly Perfect As Lugnuts Take Two

Published on June 8, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The Lansing Lugnuts' Kramer Champlin finished one batter shy of a perfect game on Saturday night, headlining a doubleheader sweep in which the West Michigan Whitecaps failed to score a run while losing by scores of 3-0 and 2-0 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Lansing (27-32) needed just two pitchers to get through 14 innings of baseball, getting a complete-game five-hit shutout from Ben White in the opener before Champlin flirted with perfection before settling for a one-hit shutout in the nightcap.

West Michigan (28-32) managed only six singles on the evening and reached scoring position just twice, losing their fourth straight game and falling nine games out of the playoff race with 10 games to play.

Champlin (3-1) dominated the second game from start to finish, retiring the first 20 batters that he faced before Devon Travis came to the plate with two outs in the bottom of the seventh. On a 1-0 pitch, Travis sent a bouncer to the left side of the infield that skipped past a backhanded stab from shortstop Emilio Guerrero to break up the perfect game and the no-hitter.

The single brought the potential game-tying run to the plate, but the 23-year-old righty out of Arizona State promptly struck out Jeff Holm looking to end the ballgame. Champlin retired 21 of the 22 batters that he faced, striking out 10 without issuing a walk to settle for the one-hit shutout.

Lansing got all of the offense they needed in the first inning when Christian Lopes singled home Dwight Smith, Jr. for a 1-0 lead. Smith later chipped in with a sacrifice fly in the fifth to make it 2-0.

Logan Ehlers (0-3) suffered the loss despite holding the Lugnuts to one run over four innings in a solid spot start.

Champlin's dominating performance outshined the earlier complete-game shutout from his teammate, Ben White.

White, a 24-year-old right-hander out of Temple University, scattered five singles and struck out seven. He issued one walk and allowed just one runner to reach scoring position.

Between the end of Game One and the start of Game Two, White and Champlin combined to retire 25 consecutive batters at one point.

In the first game, Chris Hawkins and Smith, Jr. led the Lugnuts' offensive attack. Hawkins went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, including a run-scoring hit in the second inning that gave Lansing an early 1-0 edge. Smith went 2-for-3 to provide the insurance, adding RBI-singles in both the fifth and seventh innings to provide the decisive 3-0 margin.

Endrys Briceno (2-4) took the loss despite turning in a fourth consecutive quality start and holding the Lugnuts to two runs on five hits over six innings.

The Whitecaps continue an eight-game, six-day homestand with a second consecutive doubleheader against the Lansing Lugnuts on Sunday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Charlie Gillies (0-3, 3.00) will take the mound for West Michigan opposite LHP Daniel Norris (0-4, 5.82) in the first game while RHP Julio Felix (0-2, 5.32) will face off against RHP Roberto Osuna (1-2, 3.63) in the nightcap. In addition to the doubleheader, it will be a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day featuring an appearance by Hooper courtesy of WGVU. 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 June 8, 2013


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