Late surge lifts Devil Rays to win
June 11, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BATTLE CREEK - Seven runs in the final two offensive innings for Southwest Michigan spelled defeat for the Whitecaps in a 7-5 loss to the Devil Rays.
West Michigan grabbed a 3-0 advantage in the fifth, following a 43-minute rain delay that pushed back the start of the game.
Nick McIntyre drove in the first run with a single. He and Justin Justice scored on an error when a ground ball off the bat of Jeff Frazier bounced past third baseman Patrick Cottrell.
Southwest Michigan tied the game, 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh on an RBI single by Cottrell, then back-to-back sacrifice flies from Patrick Breen and Fernando Perez.
In the top of the eighth, West Michigan rallied to reclaim the lead. Luis Sabino singled in the go-ahead run and Justin Justice drew an RBI walk for a 5-3 edge.
However, the Devil Rays scored four more in the bottom of the eighth to take back the lead. Starter Jair Jurrjens left the game for the Whitecaps in the seventh with a shutout still intact and the bases loaded. Ian Ostlund allowed all three runners to score, but did not allow the Rays to take the lead.
Ostlund began the eighth and gave up three hits, including an RBI single by Christian Lopez, which cut the new lead to 5-4.
Anthony Tomey was then brought in to preserve the lead, but immediately surrendered a single to load the bases, then a walk to Breen, which tied the game, 5-5. Perez then blooped a two-run single to center, which narrowly dropped in despite a diving attempt by Justin Justice.
Justice made a diving catch racing toward the centerfield wall to rob Josh Asanovich of a hit in the fifth.
A Little Wet: Saturday marked the second game in a row that was delayed at the outset by rain. Friday's contest was put-off for 23-minutes due to a brief shower at C. O. Brown Stadium.
The last of four: West Michigan wraps up the series at southwest Michigan Sunday afternoon. RHP Dallas Trahern (2-6, 3.61) will be on the mound for the Whitecaps against Devil Rays LHP James Houser, Jr. (4-3, 3.15). First pitch is scheduled for 2:05 p.m. The Eikenhout Incorporated Pre Game Show begins at 1:55 p.m. Sunday on 1340 AM WBBL, and at mlive.com.
Midwest League Stories from June 11, 2005
- Swing suffer late loss - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bees Win Season Best Fourth in a Row - Burlington Bees
- Late surge lifts Devil Rays to win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Rays delight crowd of 6,003 with come-from-behind win - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Pair of Homers and Great Starting Pitching Key Win - Dayton Dragons
- Rattlers drop game, fall into first place tie - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Rattlers mash Kernels - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- All-Star Maestrales Joins Bees - Burlington Bees
- L-Kings Washed Out - Clinton LumberKings
- Bees sweep double-header - Burlington Bees
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