Late Homer the Difference in 'Caps Loss
Published on July 18, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
GENEVA, IL - The West Michigan Whitecaps and Kane County Cougars went toe-to-toe in a see-saw affair on Sunday afternoon, but a home run by Leonardo Gil snapped a late tie and doomed the Whitecaps to a 4-3 loss at Elfstrom Stadium.
West Michigan (7-16, 33-59) lost for the fourth time in five games and fell to 1-10 on the road against Western Division teams this season. Conversely, red-hot Kane County (15-8, 47-45) picked up their sixth straight win and clinched their sixth consecutive series victory.
Early on, the story of the game was a pair of starting pitchers. Whitecaps' hurler Trevor Feeney, pitching just 20 minutes away from his hometown of Channahon, Illinois, turned in his 13th quality start of the season and did not allow a run until the fifth. Cougars' 19-year-old lefty Ian Krol was also dominant, allowing just one hit and one run over five impressive innings of work.
The Cougars entered play without having trailed during the current winning streak, but the Whitecaps ended that stretch in the top of the first. With two outs and the bases empty Corey Jones was hit by a pitch. Wade Gaynor promptly delivered a run-scoring double to right-center that gave the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead while extending his hitting streak to 13 games, equaling the longest stretch by a Whitecap this season.
The slim one-run lead stood up until the fifth, when Kane County finally broke through against Feeney. Gil led off the inning with a single through the left side and scored all the way from first on a long double to right-center by Chris Affinito. Later in the frame there were runners at the corners with one out when Jose Crisotomo sent a grounder to first. Clay Jones picked up the roller, stepped on the bag and fired to second where the final out was recorded after a rundown. During the play, however, Affinito crossed the plate before the third out was recorded and the Cougars took a 2-1 lead.
Moments later, the 'Caps battled back to even the score. Gaynor stole second with two outs in the top of the sixth and Avisail Garcia lined a single to left. Gaynor raced home as left fielder Rashun Dixon fired a one-hop strike to the plate, but Gaynor slid around the catcher's lunging tag attempt and brushed the plate with his left hand to tie the game at 2-2.
Shortly thereafter, however, Kane County regained control. Gil led off the seventh inning with a long solo homer to center, blasting his second bomb in as many days to put the Cougars ahead. In the eighth, West Michigan reliever Matt Little was called for a disputed balk with men at the corners to spot Kane County a 4-2 lead.
The Whitecaps pulled within one in the ninth, when Clay Jones belted a laser over the left field fence for a solo homer. Rob Brantly later drew a two-out walk to put the potential game-tying run on base, but Jamie Johnson's game-ending groundout sealed the 4-3 loss.
Cougars' reliever Bo Schultz (4-1) earned the win out of the bullpen despite allowing one run over two innings and being charged with a blown save. A.J. Huttenlocker (1) earned his first save of the year after entering the game in the ninth inning to record the final two outs.
Feeney (7-10) suffered the loss for West Michigan after scattering nine hits over 6.2 innings and allowing three runs.
The Whitecaps wrap up a six-game Western Division swing with the finale of a three-game set in Kane County on Monday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. ET. LHP Jared Wesson (2-0, 2.15) is set to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Murphy Smith (4-0, 5.48) of the Cougars. The 'Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Wednesday, July 21, for a 7:00 p.m. game featuring Hand Fans for the first 2,500 fans thanks to DFCU Financial and post-game fireworks courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.
Midwest League Stories from July 18, 2010
- Unbelievable - Kernels score record 14 runs in 7th inning for 18-11 win - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Bandits Victimized by TinCap Bats in 10-8 Loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- TinCaps Outslug River Bandits, 10-8 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Rams, Snappers stave off Lugnuts, 5-4 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Rams Blast Ends Mini Skid - Beloit Sky Carp
- Bees Fall to Dragons at Bark in the Park - Burlington Bees
- Jones, Franklin Take Flight Against Hawks - Clinton LumberKings
- Cohen Smacks Three Hits In Peoria - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Hawks Finally Score But Can't Get Victory - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Cougars Win Sixth Straight - Kane County Cougars
- Johnson Leads Dragons to 6-2 Win on Sunday - Dayton Dragons
- Loons Take Series from Rattlers - Great Lakes Loons
- Wisconsin Runs Into A Wall - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Shuts Out Hot Rods For 9-0 Win Sunday - Peoria Chiefs
- Late Homer the Difference in 'Caps Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Win, Now 7-1 on Homestand - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons Announce Roster Changes - Dayton Dragons
- Another Ninth Inning Rally Lifts Loons - Great Lakes Loons
- Kernels bow to the East in a 10-1 loss to Captains - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Lugnuts earn victory - Lansing Lugnuts
- Lugnuts Pitching Put Bolts to Snappers - Beloit Sky Carp
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
