MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

King Breaks out to Lead 'Caps to Victory

June 5, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jason King homered and drove in four runs as the West Michigan Whitecaps coasted to an 8-3 win over the Great Lakes Loons on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (28-28) returned to .500 with the victory, remaining 5.5 games out of a playoff berth with just 14 games left in the first half. The win over Great Lakes (18-40) opens a crucial homestand featuring eight games in six days, including a pair of doubleheaders over the weekend that will give the 'Caps an extra opportunity to make up ground in the standings.

The Whitecaps took on Loons' standout right-hander Carlos Frias on Wednesday. The 24-year-old Dominican brought the league's second-best ERA (1.86) into the ballgame and was named a Midwest League All-Star earlier in the day.

Trailing 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth, West Michigan mounted a rally with singles by Devon Travis and Lance Durham. King then came to the plate with two outs and worked the count to 3-1 before belting his first Midwest League home run of the season for a 3-1 lead.

King went 3-for-4 on the night with the longball and four RBI, busting out for his first big game since rejoining the Whitecaps on May 28. The switch-hitting third baseman entered play just 2-for-20 with West Michigan after opening the season with a .135 batting average through 42 games at high Class-A Lakeland.

The Whitecaps' lead was trimmed to 3-2 before the home team blew the game open with a sixth-inning rally that saw 10 men come to the plate and score five runs on five hits.

Durham delivered the biggest blow of the frame, clubbing a two-run double to left-center that made it a 5-2 ballgame and chased Frias from the ballgame. King promptly singled home Durham, while Austin Schotts added a sacrifice fly and Danry Vasquez ripped a run-scoring single to push the advantage to 8-2.

In addition to King's big night, Durham went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs scored and two RBI. The duo combined to go 5-for-8 with four runs scored and six RBI to power the offense.

Meanwhile, Great Lakes sprayed a dozen hits but just two of them went for extra bases and the Loons left 11 runners on base.

Jordan John (4-3) earned the win for West Michigan, allowing two runs on eight hits over 5.2 innings to beat Great Lakes for the second time in a week. He struck out three and walked three.

Frias (4-3) took the loss, allowing a season-high six runs on six hits over 5.1 frames.

The Whitecaps continue an eight-game, six-day homestand at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday night with the middle game of a three-game series against the Great Lakes Loons at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Yorfrank Lopez (6-2, 3.28) will take the mound for West Michigan opposite 16-year-old LHP Julio Urias (0-0, 1.35) of Great Lakes. In addition to a pre-game bobblehead doll giveaway, the Whitecaps will be wearing special jerseys for Irish Night and fans will be treated to food and beverage specials on an Altogas Thrifty Thursday. 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 June 5, 2013


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