Durham Homers But Comeback Falls Short
Published on August 18, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
DAYTON, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps could not complete a late-game rally on Sunday afternoon, falling by a 4-2 score to the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field.
West Michigan (25-28, 58-65) was stifled by Dayton (30-26, 58-67) starter Sal Romano before mounting a late comeback against the Dragons' bullpen.
The Whitecaps were down 4-0 when Lance Durham broke up the shutout with a solo homer in the seventh. In the eighth, three consecutive two-out hits brought West Michigan within 4-2 after Connor Harrell singled home David Gonzalez. Suddenly, with runners at second and third, the 'Caps had the potential game-tying run in scoring position.
But the Dragons countered with their closer, Alejandro Chacin. After issuing a walk that loaded the bases, Chacin induced a fielder's choice groundout from Durham to end the eighth-inning threat.
Chacin (7) worked around a leadoff walk in the ninth to complete the four-out save and preserve the Dragons' 4-2 win.
Romano (7-9) was rewarded with the victory after dealing 5.2 scoreless frames to start the ballgame. The 6-foot-4, 250-pound 19-year-old yielded just two hits - both singles - and allowed only two runners to reach scoring position. He struck out three and walked four.
Daniel Pigott put Dayton in front with a solo homer in the second inning, but it was a three-run rally in the fifth that allowed Dayton to assert control.
The rally began with three straight singles, including a bouncing ball by Seth Mejias-Brean that snuck through the right side of the infield to score Sammy Diaz. That prompted the Whitecaps to bring the infield half-way with men at the corners and nobody out. Pigott followed with a bouncing ball to the second baseman, but Harold Castro fired home and sailed his throw past the catcher as another run scored. Two batters later, Zach Vincej chipped in with the fourth single of the inning to plate Mejias-Brean for a 4-0 advantage.
The rally chased Montreal Robertson (2-7) from the game and hung the 23-year-old right-hander with the loss. Robertson was charged with four runs - two earned - on eight hits over 4.1 innings with three walks and three strikeouts.
The Whitecaps continue a seven-game road trip on Monday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch against the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field. RHP Edgar De La Rosa (6-6, 6.15) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against LHP Ismael Guillon (5-7, 5.40) for Dayton. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be on Saturday, July 24, at 7:00 p.m. featuring a slew of promotions including Team Ghostriders, a mini-bat giveaway and Family Fare 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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