MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Claggett has rare bad day in Whitecaps loss

Published on July 12, 2006 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


BATTLE CREEK - In his first 31 appearances of the season, Whitecaps relief pitcher Anthony Claggett allowed a total of two runs in 39.1 innings pitched. But on Wednesday afternoon, Southwest Michigan touched Claggett for two runs in the bottom of the ninth inning and a 5-4 victory over West Michigan.

The loss ends a nine game road winning streak for the Whitecaps, which matched a team record achieved twice prior to this season: in 1996 and 1997.

Chris Cunningham delivered a game-tying single, followed two batters later by the walk off hit - a single to center by Jackson Brennan.

Matt Joyce provided most of the offense for the Whitecaps. He knocked a two-run triple to tie the game, 2-2 in the fourth. Joyce also had a game tying single in the sixth.

In the eighth, Joyce was hit by a pitch to lead off, stole second, advanced to third on a wild pitch and scored a go-ahead run on another wild pitch by Jeff Kamrath.

J. T. Hall was the offensive star for the Devil Rays. He was 3-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and a walk.

Josh Rainwater allowed the first three Southwest Michigan runs as he pitched five innings in the starting role for the Whitecaps. Matt Rusch followed with 2.2 shutout innings of relief and Rickey Steik finished the eighth for Rusch without allowing a run.

The Whitecaps have lost back-to-back games for the first time in the second half and for the first time since a three-game slide June 12-15.

Two More: West Michigan manager Matt Walbeck is still two wins away from becoming the second skipper in team history with 200 wins. Bruce Fields won 331 games in four seasons from 1997-2000.

Below are the expected pitching match ups for the rest of the series in Battle Creek:

(West Michigan vs. Southwest Michigan)

Thursday, 7:05 p.m.

RHP Matt Walker (2-2, 1.23) vs. LHP Erik Averill (4-4, 3.69)

Friday, 7:35 p.m.

LHP Jake McGee (6-6, 2.52) vs. RHP Burke Badenhop (8-2, 3.40)

The Whitecaps Pre Game Show begins at 6:55 p.m. Thursday on 1340 AM WBBL, The Whitecaps Radio Network and at wbbl.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 12, 2006


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