MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Espinoza, Soto Lead Whitecaps To Series Win

Published on May 6, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


MIDLAND, MI - Alexis Espinoza and Elvin Soto each collected two hits and two RBI as the West Michigan Whitecaps held on for a 4-3 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Thursday morning at the Dow Diamond.

West Michigan (10-18) also got 4.1 scoreless frames of two-hit relief in taking two of the three from the rival Loons. Great Lakes (17-10) came back to tie the score at one point and continually threatened, but stranded 13 runners on base in the loss.

The Whitecaps took a first-inning lead thanks in part to some wild pitching. Two walks and a hit batsman loaded the bases with two outs, setting the stage for Soto to get his first plate appearance since April 16. Showing no signs of rust, the 20-year-old first baseman turned on the first pitch he saw and ripped a two-run single to right for a 2-0 lead.

The Loons threatened West Michigan's lead in the bottom of the second, but a pair of big plays at the plate kept them off the board. With a man aboard and nobody out, Lenell McGee lined a double down the left field line and Gorman Erickson tried to score from first. But Michael Rockett fired a strike to the plate and Billy Alvino withstood a vicious collision to hold onto the ball. Meanwhile, McGee took third on the play at the dish. The very next pitch was a bouncer to third baseman Luis Palacios, who chased McGee towards the plate and threw him out to extinguish the rally.

Espinoza checked in with a two-out, solo homer in the fifth to push the 'Caps advantage to 3-0.

In the bottom of the fifth, however, the lead disappeared. Christian Lara led off the frame with a towering solo homer to left, but it was a two-out rally later in the inning did the bulk of the damage. Jerry Sands was at second when Brian Cavazos-Galvez lifted a fly ball to deep right. Espinoza drifted back to the wall but the ball caromed off his glove, allowing a run to score on a double. Brian Ruggiano followed with another two-base hit that tied the game at 3-3.

The deadlock remained until the top of the seventh as the 'Caps recaptured the lead with a two-out rally. The bases were empty when Wade Gaynor lined a double that one-hopped the wall in left field. Espinoza followed with a clutch triple to deep center field, plating Gaynor for a 4-3 edge.

The bullpen held on from there, forcing Great Lakes to strand six runners without scoring a run over the last four frames. Victor Larez (2-4) tossed 2.1 innings and allowed just one hit for the victory, while Cory Hamilton (2) earned the save with two scoreless frames at the back end of the bullpen.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, May 7, for a 6:35 p.m. game in which LHP Giovanni Soto (1-2, 2.59) will pitch for West Michigan against RHP Jason McEachern (0-4, 6.75) of the Bowling Green Hot Rods. The first 1,000 fans will receive a Brandon Inge Bobblehead Doll presented by Pepsi, and four randomly placed bobbleheads will be autographed by Brandon Inge. 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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Midwest League Stories from May 6, 2010


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