Homers lead way to sixth straight Whitecaps win
July 4, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
LANSING - Cory Middleton hit a game winning three run home run in the seventh inning as the Whitecaps won their sixth game in a row, 5-3 in Lansing. Cameron Maybin also went deep and finished 3-for-4 for West Michigan as all of the Whitecaps runs scored on homers.
Middleton's blast to left was his first of the season. Cameron Maybin hit a two-run shot (his 3rd) into the wind, deep to left-center in the first.
Lansing tied the game, 2-2 off starting pitcher Luke French with three straight hits in the fifth inning. Sean Shoffit had an RBI single and Jason Armstrong drove in a run on a ground ball.
Josh Bell delivered a go-ahead RBI double in the sixth off French to give the Lugnuts their only lead of the game, 3-2.
But in the next half inning, West Michigan made Lansing pay for the only error of the game. Dusty Ryan reached base on a wild throw by third baseman Jason Armstrong. Justin Justice then walked with two out to leave the door open for the heroics by Middleton.
French wound up with the victory in six innings pitched. Matt Rusch, Ricky Steik and closer Orlando Perdomo each threw scoreless innings of relief for the Whitecaps. Perdomo earned his 19th save.
West Michigan has won seven consecutive road games and is 11-2 in the second half, 52-28 overall this season.
Sitting Out: Outfielder Jeramy Laster has been suspended for three games by the Midwest League for his role in a fight on June 8. The brawl involved the Whitecaps and Wizards in Fort Wayne on June 8. Laster will not be eligible to play until the final game of the series in Lansing. He began serving the suspension on Monday.
Midwest League Stories from July 4, 2006
- Rays defeat Rattlers 10-4 - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Kernels trample Bees, 13-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bees singing big inning blues - Burlington Bees
- Cougars light fireworks against Dayton - Kane County Cougars
- Devil Rays give the Rattlers heck - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lugnuts lose third straight - Lansing Lugnuts
- Dayton bullpen gives up five in the seventh , lose 12-4 - Dayton Dragons
- Evans puts Hawks back in win column - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Homers lead way to sixth straight Whitecaps win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Swing go bombs away in fourth of July win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs drop LumberKings 6-2 - Peoria Chiefs
- Mendoza named MWL Pitcher of the Week - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Cunningham Returns from D.L. - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Whitecaps Surge Past Lansing - Lansing Lugnuts
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