MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

John, Knebel Bookend Key Win In Dayton

August 17, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


DAYTON, OH - Jordan John tossed six strong innings and Corey Knebel picked up a four-out save as the West Michigan Whitecaps opened their seven-game road trip with a 3-2 win over the Dayton Dragons on Saturday night at Fifth Third Field.

The two hurlers, along with Jeff Thompson, combined to throw a five-hitter as West Michigan (25-27, 58-64) picked up a much-needed win over Dayton (30-25, 58-66) on the heels of a disappointing 1-5 homestand.

John (8-4) set the tone by retiring the first 11 batters that he faced on his way to equaling a team-high with his eighth win. The 23-year-old southpaw allowed just three hits and one unearned run, striking out four with one walk to earn his team-best seventh quality start.

The offense gave him an early lead to work with after Dragons' starter Drew Cisco was forced out of the ballgame after just one inning due to back spasms.

With Werleen Taveras on the mound in the top of the second, Connor Harrell drew a walk and Jason King singled to put men at the corners. Lance Durham followed with a run-scoring hit to right and, later in the frame, Harold Castro added a two-out single that dropped in left field to plate King for a 2-0 lead.

The rally nearly continued when Raph Rhymes blasted a long fly ball to deep left field, but Dayton's Jesse Winker made a spectacular leaping catch at the wall. Though his grab saved at least two runs and ended the inning, Winker came up limping and was subsequently removed from the game.

After losing their starting pitcher in the first inning and their star outfielder in the second, Dayton fell behind 3-0 when Harrell singled home Rhymes with two outs in the fifth.

The add-on run proved to be crucial.

The Dragons' comeback bid began when a fifth-inning error led to a sacrifice fly that cut the Whitecaps' lead to 3-1. Dayton mounted another rally in the eighth that chased reliever Jeff Thompson from the game, and Seth Mejias-Brean greeted Knebel with an RBI-single to center that cut the lead to 3-2.

But Knebel was up to the challenge. Called on to get more than just the last three outs for the first time in his young professional career, the hard-throwing closer got Daniel Pigott to fly out to end the eighth with runners stranded at first and second.

In the ninth, he struck out all three batters that he faced swinging to improve to a perfect 12-for-12 in professional save opportunities. The 39th overall pick out of the University of Texas in the 2013 draft, Knebel lowered his ERA to 0.77 through his first 23 pro appearances, all of which have been with the Whitecaps.

Taveras (1-2) took the loss for Dayton after entering the ballgame early in the second inning. He was charged with two runs on five hits over three innings.

The Whitecaps continue a seven-game road trip on Sunday afternoon with a 2:00 p.m. first pitch against the Dayton Dragons at Fifth Third Field. RHP Montreal Robertson (2-6, 6.75) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Sal Romano (6-9, 4.92) for Dayton. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be on Saturday, July 24, at 7:00 p.m. featuring a slew of promotions including Team Ghostriders, a mini-bat giveaway and 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.

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Midwest League Stories from August 17, 2013


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