MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Green Fans 10, Whitecaps Explode For Comeback Win

Published on July 29, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps brought a five-game winning streak back to Fifth Third Ballpark as they took the field for Tuesday's homestand-opener.

Not much changed in their return to West Michigan, as Chad Green tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts and the offense blew the game open with seven runs in a two-inning span during a 7-2 win over the Lake County Captains.

West Michigan (25-12, 66-42) improved their overall record to a season-high 25 games over .500 and improved their head-to-head record against Lake County (17-19, 44-62) to 9-3 this season. During the Whitecaps' current six-game winning streak, the club has outscored the opposition by a decisive 32-10 margin.

The pitching staff, which leads the league with a 2.96 ERA, has led the way with a 1.50 ERA during the winning streak, allowing two runs or less in five of the six victories - and striking out a whopping 30 batters over the last two games.

Green (4-4) led the mound effort on Tuesday, limiting the Captains to two runs over six strong innings with 10 punch-outs, equaling a career-high total he initially accomplished against Lake County on May 16. The Louisville product, who gave up four hits and walked two, now owns an impressive 28 strikeouts in 16.2 innings over his three career starts against the Captains.

But Green and the Whitecaps were trailing, 2-0, before the offensive exploded for seven runs on 10 hits in the fourth and fifth innings.

Dominic Ficociello, who increased his league-leading hit total to 129, led off the fourth with a single and quickly scored on a base hit by Jeff Holm. Two outs later, Austin Schotts and Wynton Bernard added consecutive RBI-singles to put the 'Caps in front. Javier Betancourt capped the five-run, five-hit inning with a two-run double to left as West Michigan suddenly claimed a 5-2 lead.

It was more of the same in the fifth, when the Whitecaps strung together five consecutive hits to plate two more runs. The one-out rally started with a double by Ficociello and included run-scoring singles by Grayson Greiner and Francisco Contreras for the 7-2 margin.

Outside of the two-inning stretch, the Whitecaps' offense collected just three hits - all of which came from Bernard, who finished the evening 4-for-5. Ficociello and Holm each went 2-for-4 and Betancourt added a pair of RBI.

Caleb Hamrick (3-6) took the loss, allowing seven runs on 12 hits in five innings of work.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday night against the Lake County Captains at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Jonathon Crawford (6-2, 2.99) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Dace Kime (5-12, 5.26) of Lake County in a contest featuring a pre-game seat cushion giveaway and a post-game Family Fare fireworks show. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from July 29, 2014


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