MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Durham Powers Comeback With Two Home Runs

Published on July 28, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


SOUTH BEND, IN - Lance Durham belted two home runs and drove in five on Sunday afternoon, powering the West Michigan Whitecaps to a come-from-behind, 10-7 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks at Coveleski Stadium.

West Michigan (17-17, 50-54) trailed by as many as four runs before Durham's late power display. Meanwhile, the bullpen held South Bend (21-15, 65-40) in check over six strong innings to keep the team in the game and set the stage for the late rally.

Through the first six innings of the ballgame, the offense was frustrated by Silver Hawks' starter Jesse Darrah. Though West Michigan collected just two hits through the first six frames, both were extra-base hits and the Whitecaps' lineup was continually squaring up pitches only to hit them right at defenders.

Trailing 6-2 in the seventh, the comeback began when Durham blasted a two-run homer to right-center. South Bend answered with what appeared to be a key add-on run in the bottom of the inning, but the Whitecaps continued to rally in the top of the eighth.

Facing Silver Hawks' reliever Jose Jose in a 7-4 ballgame, Jared Reaves reached base on an infield and ended up at third when the pitcher sailed a high throw past first base. Jeff Holm followed with a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 7-5.

With two outs and the bases empty, Jason King and Dean Green kept the inning alive with back-to-back flare singles that dropped just in front of South Bend outfielders. That set the stage for Durham, who took a pair of pitches before slugging a towering fly to right-center on a 2-0 count that cleared the wall for a three-run homer.

Suddenly, the 'Caps seized an 8-7 lead on Durham's team-leading 12th home run of the year. It was the second multi-homer game of the season for "The Bull" and the fifth time a Whitecap has launched two home runs in a game this year. It was also Durham's second - and the team's fourth - five-RBI game of the season.

The rally continued with a hit batsman followed by a run-scoring double from Adolfo Reina. After a pitching change, two walks and a passed ball led to another run and capped a six-run inning that gave the Whitecaps a 10-7 advantage.

The strong bullpen effort continued with scoreless innings from Josh Turley in the eighth and Corey Knebel (8) in the ninth to complete the comeback. Yorfrank Lopez and Calvin Drummond (2-1) had already thrown two innings of relief apiece, with Drummond earning the win and Knebel picking up the save. The quartet of relievers combined to allow just one run on two hits with seven strikeouts over six innings of work.

The performance by the bullpen was necessary after starter Montreal Robertson gave up six runs - five earned - on six hits over three innings.

Jose (0-1) took the loss for South Bend, giving up six runs - five earned - on five hits in the eighth. He recorded just two outs.

The Whitecaps wrap up a three-game road series against the South Bend Silver Hawks at 1:05 p.m. on Monday afternoon at Coveleski Stadium. RHP Edgar De La Rosa (5-4, 6.33) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Blake Perry (6-4, 3.73) of South Bend. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be on Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. featuring the popular Dime Dogs promotion in which hot dogs are available for just 10 cents apiece. 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 July 28, 2013


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