MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Costly Errors Sink Whitecaps In Fort Wayne

Published on August 10, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - A pair of rallies keyed by costly errors spelled defeat for the West Michigan Whitecaps on Friday, ending their seven-game road trip with a 9-3 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Friday night at Parkview Field.

West Michigan (23-24, 59-58) ended the trip with a solid 4-3 record, winning three out of four in Lansing before dropping two of three in Fort Wayne (28-19, 59-58). The 'Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Saturday night to host the Bowling Green Hot Rods for a brief three-game homestand.

Friday night's game was significantly affected by a pair of key errors in the middle innings.

The Whitecaps scored a run in the top of the first and held a 1-0 lead with starter Kyle Ryan cruising into the fourth inning. After an infield single started the frame, Mike Gallic hit a tailor-made double play grounder to the second baseman, but Brandon Loy muffed the play and both runners reached safely.

Instead of two outs and the bases empty, Fort Wayne had a pair of baserunners and nobody out. Yeison Asencio came up next and tied the game with a run-scoring single, while Lee Orr followed with a three-run homer as the TinCaps suddenly snatched a 4-1 lead.

In the sixth, Fort Wayne had runners at second and third with one out against reliever Will Clinard. The right-hander got a key second out when he induced a groundout to shortstop with the infield playing in, and he appeared to be out of the jam when he forced Austin Hedges to hit a routine grounder back to short.

But the ball skipped right under the glove and through the legs of All-Star shortstop Eugenio Suarez. Instead of an inning-ending groundout, the TinCaps added two unearned runs and took control with a 6-1 advantage.

Asencio put the game away with a two-out, two-run double in the seventh and Duanel Jones added a solo homer in the eighth to make it a 9-1 ballgame. The Whitecaps rallied late for a pair of runs in the ninth, cementing the 9-3 final.

Ryan (6-7) took the loss for West Michigan, allowing four runs - three earned - on five hits over four innings of work. Spot-starter James Needy (6-1) earned the win for Fort Wayne, allowing one run on three hits and striking out seven over five impressive innings.

The bulk of the damage was delivered by the fourth and fifth hitters in the Fort Wayne lineup. Asencio and Orr each drove in three runs, with Asencio going 3-for-4 to lead the way.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark for a brief three-game homestand against the Bowling Green Hot Rods that starts at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday night. RHP Marcelo Carreno (6-8, 3.67) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Jake Floethe (10-3, 3.14) of Bowling Green. The ballgame will feature a superhero cape giveaway on Superhero Night, an appearance by the incomparable Team Ghost Riders, 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 August 10, 2012


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