MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Extra innings needed for fifth straight Whitecaps win

Published on April 18, 2007 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK - Following Saturday's doubleheader, the Whitecaps coaching staff decided not to use any of the five regular starters in Wednesday's game. It worked out for West Michigan as three usual relievers covered 11 innings in a 4-3 win over Clinton.

The Whitecaps have won five games in a row and are 6-5, above .500 for the first time this season.

Audy Ciriaco delivered the game winning RBI single in the bottom of the eleventh after a pair of fielding miscues that helped Clinton erase a 3-0 deficit.

Josh Rainwater made his first start of the year and did not allow a run until the fifth inning when a low throw to first from the shortstop, Ciriaco could not be handled by first baseman Ryan Strieby. The play was scored a two-run infield single by Jose Vallejo, which pulled the LumberKings to within one at 3-2.

In the seventh, Clinton tied the game on a throwing error by Ciriaco when an out would have ended the inning.

Rainwater pitched 4.2 innings. Phil Napolitan followed with 4.1 innings of work and one unearned run allowed. Closer Brett Jensen pitched the tenth and eleventh for West Michigan to earn the victory.

The Whitecaps grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second inning when Ryan Strieby scored from third on a balk by Clinton starting pitcher Omar Poveda.

In the third inning, Scott Sizemore launched a 400-foot home run to left center. The two-run blast pushed the West Michigan lead to 3-0.

It was the first extra inning game of the season for either team.

Jeramy Laster walked three times in the game for the Whitecaps, including once in the eleventh. He went on to score the winning run from second base on the hit by Ciriaco.

Gorkys Hernandez went 3-for-5 for the Whitecaps. It was his second three hit game of the season.

West Michigan has won 11 consecutive meetings against Clinton.

Below are the expected pitching match ups for the rest of the series against the LumberKings:

(Clinton vs. West Michigan)

Thursday, 6:35 p.m.

LHP Zach Phillips (0-1, 6.48) vs. RHP Lauren Gagnier (0-1, 7.36)

Friday, 3:00 p.m.

LHP Glenn Swanson (2-0, 1.64) vs. RHP Angel Castro (1-0, 1.59)

The Davenport University Career Startup Show begins at 6:25 p.m. Thursday on 1340 AM WBBL the Whitecaps Radio Network, and at wbbl.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 18, 2007


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