MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Hard-Charging 'Caps Get over the Hump

August 19, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jeff Holm was 2-for-5 with a long two-run homer that cut the deficit to one run in the seventh inning, but the West Michigan Whitecaps could not complete the comeback in a 6-5 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts on a wet and rainy Tuesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (35-22, 76-51) trailed by scores of 4-1 and 6-3, pulling to within a run on each occasion but failing to get over the hump. The Whitecaps registered 10 or more hits for the fifth consecutive game but came up short due in part to a 1-for-11 mark with runners in scoring position.

Lansing (25-32, 57-69) jumped out to a 4-1 lead during a rainy top of the second inning. As a light drizzle intensified into a full-on downpour, the Lugnuts opened the inning with four straight hits against Whitecaps' starter Matt Davenport. D.J. Davis tripled on the first pitch of the inning and scored on a single by Dawel Lugo. Justin Atkinson later added a run-scoring double and Chaz Frank and Derrick Loveless also chipped in with RBI to assert the 4-1 advantage.

The Whitecaps scored single runs in each of the first three innings, thanks in part to Arvicent Perez's fourth consecutive multi-hit game. The 20-year-old catcher from Venezuela singled and scored in the second inning and added a two-out RBI-single in the third that brought the 'Caps to within 4-3.

But Lugnuts' starter Brad Allen reigned in the Whitecaps' offense thereafter, finishing his outing with three scoreless innings. Meanwhile, the Lansing offense added single runs in the fifth and sixth to reassert a 6-3 lead.

Holm changed that with a big swing in the seventh that reinvigorated the West Michigan offense. With a man at first and two away, the slugger out of Michigan State blasted a tape-measure shot over the Pioneer State Mutual Insurance Deck in right field, trimming the deficit to 6-5.

But that was as close as the 'Caps could get.

Perez reached on an error to open the bottom of the eighth, but the inning ended with runners at the corners when Domingo Leyba grounded out. In the ninth, Lansing's Brady Dragmire retired the heart of the Whitecaps' lineup in order to earn his third save of the year.

Allen (5-5) earned the win with six solid innings, giving up three runs - two earned - on eight hits with three strikeouts and no walks.

Davenport (5-5) took the loss for West Michigan after surrendering six runs on 10 hits over 5.1 innings.

The Whitecaps continue their final extended homestand of the regular season on Wednesday night with a 7:00 p.m. game against the Lansing Lugnuts. RHP Austin Kubitza (10-2, 2.53) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Miguel Castro (1-1, 5.52) of Lansing in a ballgame featuring a pre-game sunglasses giveaway, Princess Night, and post-game Family Fare fireworks. 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



Midwest League Stories from August 19, 2014


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