MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Early Lead Evaporates As Whitecaps Drop Opener

Published on June 8, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The West Michigan Whitecaps could not hold an early lead in Tuesday night's road trip opener against the Cedar Rapids Kernels, falling by a 6-2 score on Perfect Game Field at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

As interdivisional play continues, West Michigan (23-35) began a six-game road trip against the top two teams in the Eastern Division standings on Tuesday. After the 'Caps jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, however, first-place Cedar Rapids (37-21) stormed back for six unanswered runs and used a five-run outburst in the third to snatch the victory.

The Whitecaps looked strong to open the game. After the first two batters of the first were retired, Kernels' starter Ariel Pena walked both Wade Gaynor and Jordan Lennerton. Avisail Garcia stepped in next and swung at the first pitch he saw, grounding a base hit up the middle that plated Gaynor for a 1-0 lead. In the second, Jimmy Gulliver led off with a single and was promptly doubled to third by Billy Alvino. Jamie Johnson followed with a run-scoring groundout for a 2-0 edge.

Shortly thereafter, the Kernels turned things around. After pushing across a two-out run in the second to cut the deficit in half, Cedar Rapids sent 10 men to the plate and took the lead with a big rally in the bottom of the third.

West Michigan starter Jade Todd issued a pair of walks to start the inning and Matt Long doubled home the game-tying run. One out later, Casey Haerther singled home the go-ahead run while advancing Long to third. Todd struck out the next batter and was on the verge of escaping the jam with just a 3-2 deficit, but Cedar Rapids seized control over a sequence of the next three pitches.

With Justin Bass batting and runners at the corners, Haerther broke for second base as the Kernels aggressively attempted the double steal. Long raced towards the plate as the throw sailed to second and Haerther slid in ahead of the tag, while Long scored easily for a 4-2 lead. The next pitch with singled to center as Bass drove in Haerther, and Michael Wing lined the very next offering to right for a run-scoring triple and a 6-2 Cedar Rapids advantage.

Despite the flurry of scoring early, neither team was able to score past the third inning.

Pena (1-1) settled in to earn the victory for the Kernels, overcoming five walks and an early deficit to throw six innings. He was charged with two runs on four hits while fanning five, and was followed by a trio of hurlers that combined for three shutout frames of one-hit relief.

Todd (0-7) suffered his seventh straight loss to open the season for West Michigan. The lefty was touched up for six runs on six hits over 2.2 innings before relievers Nolan Moody and Nathan Newman combined for 5.1 scoreless innings out of the bullpen.

In the seventh, Jamie Johnson singled to left to extend his hitting streak to 11 games. He is batting .349 with 10 RBI during the streak, which is just one shy of the team-high established by Jordan Lennerton from May 21-June 2.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip to the Western Division with a 7:35 p.m. ET first pitch against the Cedar Rapids Kernels on Wednesday, June 9. West Michigan sends RHP Trevor Feeney (6-3, 3.08) to the mound for game two of a three-game series against LHP Tyler Skaggs (5-2, 2.63) and the Kernels. Following the road trip, the 'Caps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark for a three-game set against the Lake County Captains that starts on Tuesday, June 15, with an all-you-can-eat food package on a Fat Tuesday and Senior Night. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 8, 2010


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