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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Defense Does In 'Caps as Loons Rally

May 5, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps jumped out to a 6-0 lead on Wednesday night at the Dow Diamond, but a pair of key defensive misplays allowed the Great Lakes Loons potent offense to storm back for an 8-6 win.

West Michigan (9-18) got an encouraging start from top prospect Jacob Turner, who tossed 3.2 healthy innings after being activated from the Disabled List earlier in the day. Great Lakes (17-9) evened the three-game series with the victory, and the two teams will battle it out with the rubber match in a morning game on Thursday.

Turner held the first nine batters he faced without a hit before serving up a two-run homer to Christian Lara in the third, and two more runs were charged to him after his departure in the fourth. Over 3.1 innings of work, the 18-year-old right-hander was touched for four runs - two earned - on three hits while fanning three and walking one. He threw 31 of his 64 pitches for strikes.

Meanwhile, the West Michigan offense exploded for a sizeable lead.

Michael Rockett doubled to lead off the second inning and used a pair of wild pitches to score the game's first run.

One inning later, a five-run outburst seemingly put the Whitecaps in the driver's seat. After a leadoff walk to Jamie Johnson, Mike Gosse smacked a run-scoring double to center. Later in the frame there were men at first and second when Alexis Espinoza dropped a run-scoring single into right-center. Rockett followed by clubbing a long three-run homer to center as West Michigan jumped out to a 6-0 advantage.

The Loons were on the comeback trail, though, taking advantage of a series of defensive miscues to plate eight consecutive runs.

After Austin Yount reached on an error to lead off the third, Turner struck out the next two batters he faced. But with two away and an extra out to work with, Lara clubbed a two-run homer to right that cut West Michigan's lead to 6-2.

In the bottom of the fourth, another key defensive misplay opened the door for Great Lakes. J.T. Wise and Brian Cavazos-Galvez each singled with one out and moved to second and third on a groundout. After a pitching change, Lenell McGee followed with a two-run single against reliever Nathan Newman that pulled the Loons within 6-4. Newman then walked Rafael Ynoa but appeared to be out of the jam after inducing a fly ball from Lara, but left fielder Luis Salas dropped the would-be third out. Not only did two runs score on the play to tie the game, but each of the next two batters delivered run-scoring hits as Great Lakes seized an 8-6 lead.

Neither team would score the rest of the way. The ‘Caps stranded the bases loaded in the fourth and fifth frames and left 12 men on base in all.

Justin Miller (2-0) earned the win with 1.2 scoreless frames out of the bullpen and Luis Vasquez (6) worked the ninth for the save. Newman (0-1) suffered the loss after being charged with four runs on four hits without recording an out.

The Whitecaps conclude their seven-game road trip with the finale of a three-game series at Great Lakes featuring a 10:35 a.m. first pitch on Thursday, May 6. LHP Jade Todd (0-4, 4.44) will take the mound for West Michigan against RHP Brett Wallach (2-0, 2.81) of the Loons. The ‘Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, May 7, for a 6:35 p.m. game at which the first 1,000 fans will receive a Brandon Inge Bobblehead Doll presented by Pepsi. Season, 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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