MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Late Rally Falls Short in Error-Filled Loss

Published on May 31, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps opened a six-game homestand with an exciting back-and-forth affair on Tuesday night, but ultimately lost a 5-4 contest to the Quad Cities River Bandits as interdivisional play began at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (21-31) nearly overcame a mistake-filled game that included four errors and a costly wild pitch in the ninth inning, but Quad Cities (28-24) broke a late tie with a pair of runs in the final frame that proved to be the difference.

Dixon Machado tripled and scored on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the eighth to even the score at 3-3, but the Whitecaps could not keep the River Bandits off the scoreboard in the top of the ninth.

Hard-throwing reliever Bruce Rondon walked the first batter of the top of the ninth, who was subsequently removed for a pinch runner that stole second and was bunted to third. Rondon nearly worked his way out of the jam by inducing a foul out and getting ahead of the next batter with an 0-2 count. With two outs and two strikes in a tie ballgame, however, a slider to Colin Walsh bounced away as the go-ahead run scored easily on the wild pitch. A frustrated Rondon went on to walk Walsh and give up a run-scoring double to Virgil Hill as Quad Cities went ahead by a 5-3 score.

West Michigan mounted a rally in the ninth inning. Nick Castellanos drew a one-out walk and used a wild pitch and a groundout to advance to third. Ryan Hamme extended the ballgame with a two-out single that plated Castellanos and pulled the ‘Caps to within 5-4. With the potential game-tying run aboard, Steven Moya popped out to the third baseman as the late rally fell short.

Angel De Jesus (1-1) earned the win for the River Bandits despite allowing two runs in two innings and being charged with a blown save. Rondon (2-1) suffered the loss for the Whitecaps as a result of two runs on two walks and a hit over 1.1 frames.

The two runs scored by Quad Cities in the ninth inning were the only earned runs allowed by the Whitecaps pitching staff.

Kevin Eichhorn got the start and pitched 6.1 solid innings, giving up three unearned runs on five hits while fanning four. The first run came in the opening frame, when a wild pickoff attempt at first base led to an early 1-0 hole.

Rob Brantly turned the score around with one swing of the bat in the third. With a runner at first base and two outs, the 21-year-old blasted the first pitch he saw over the right field fence for a two-run homer and a 2-1 lead.

That score remained until the top of the seventh, when more shoddy West Michigan defense held Quad Cities jump back in front. There was a man at first base with one out when Victor Sanchez hit an apparent double play ball to third, but Castellanos bobbled the ball before sailing a high throw past first base as the runners ended up at the corners. Walsh followed with a run-scoring single that tied the score.

Moments later, the runners were in motion on a double steal. Brantly's throw to third flew wide into left field as Sanchez came home easily to put the River Bandits in front, 3-2.

The Whitecaps answered thanks to Machado's triple in the eighth, only to watch Quad Cities take the lead for good in the top of the ninth.

The Whitecaps continue their homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Wednesday night as interdivisional play continues against the Quad Cities River Bandits. LHP Kyle Ryan (3-4, 3.74) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against RHP Seth Blair (2-3, 5.23) of Quad Cities in the middle game of a three-game set. Festivities will include post-game fireworks presented by Farm Bureau Insurance as well as a special show by the national entertainment act "Quick Change." Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 31, 2011


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