MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Feeney Leads Whitecaps To Fifth Straight Win

August 9, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


DAYON, OH - Trevor Feeney twirled a sixth consecutive quality start and the West Michigan Whitecaps extended their winning streak to five games with an 8-3 victory over the reeling Dayton Dragons on Monday night at Fifth Third Field.

West Michigan (19-24, 45-67) has won 10 of their last 13 to pull within just one game of a potential playoff berth, and will look to complete a four-game sweep in the series finale on Tuesday. Dayton's (10-32, 40-71) woes continued with a 20th consecutive home loss as the Dragons have dropped 24 of their last 27 games overall.

Feeney (9-11) pitched into the eighth inning without issuing a walk to continue an impressive streak of 31.1 consecutive innings and four starts without issuing a free pass. He scattered nine hits while allowing three runs - two earned - over 7.1 frames, notching notch his 17th quality start in 24 outings and increasing his league-leading total of 155.2 innings pitched. Feeney struck out three and induced a pair of double plays in the victory.

Still, the Whitecaps trailed 2-0 before the offense came to life in the top of the sixth.

Rob Brantly was at first with one out when Jeff Rowland split the gap in right-center field for a run-scoring triple. Two pitches later, Rowland trotted home on a sacrifice fly by Hernan Perez that tied the score at 2-2.

In the seventh, West Michigan put together another rally that started with a four-pitch walk to Michael Rockett. An error and an infield single by Wade Gaynor loaded the bases with nobody out. After an infield pop-out, a wild pitch allowed Rockett to race home for the go-ahead run and Avisail Garcia lined a two-run single to center that gave the Whitecaps a 5-2 cushion.

Dayton pushed across a run in the bottom of the eighth, but West Michigan answered with a three-spot to put the game away in the top of the ninth. Corey Jones started the rally with a walk and Gaynor followed with a ground-rule double. Tony Plagman lined an RBI-single up the middle and Garcia drove home a run on a fielder's choice groundout. Rowland capped the scoring with an opposite-field double to left, plating Garcia to put the finishing touches on the 8-3 victory.

Jordan Pratt (2) finished off the Dragons to earn the save, stranding a runner at third base in the eighth and retiring all five batters he faced with three strikeouts.

Junior Martinez (1-3) suffered the loss out of the Dayton bullpen, surrendering three runs - two earned - on two hits and two walks in two innings.

The Whitecaps continue a seven-game road trip with the finale of a four-game series at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday night against the Dayton Dragons. LHP Jared Wesson (4-1, 2.45) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Ricky Bowen (2-6, 6.13) of the Dragons in a battle between former Mississippi State teammates. The Whitecaps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, August 14, for a seven-day homestand that starts with a 7:00 p.m. game against the South Bend Silver Hawks. The first 1,000 kids ages 14-and-under will receive capes on Superhero Night presented by Charter Communications, and the evening will culminate with a tremendous fireworks display thanks to Farm Bureau Insurance. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 9, 2010


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