MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Late Unearned Run Sinks Whitecaps

August 27, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps suffered their fourth consecutive loss on Wednesday night, a 2-1 defeat at the hands of the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the opener of a three-game series at Parkview Field.

The four consecutive losses marks the longest losing streak of the season for West Michigan (39-26, 80-55), who remains one game ahead of South Bend in the MWL-East second-half standings. On Wednesday, Fort Wayne (29-36, 59-75) broke a late tie with an unearned run in the bottom of the eighth and then survived a ninth-inning rally that ended with the game-tying run stranded at third base.

The game was tied at 1-1 in the bottom of the eighth when Zac Reininger issued a one-out walk to Franmil Reyes, who checked his swing at a 3-2 pitch to earn the free pass. The key play in the rally may have come moments later when Reyes advanced to second base on a passed ball. Reininger countered by striking out Jake Bauers swinging, but John Nester looped a 2-2 single into left-center to plate Reyes for a 2-1 lead.

The Whitecaps threatened in the ninth. Domingo Leyba stayed hot with a 2-for-4 night, smacking a base hit to left-center and hustling around first base to leg out a double. After a fly-out, Leyba tagged and advanced to third base.

Facing hard-throwing closer Ryan Butler, Ross Kivett turned on a pay-off pitch and sent a liner into left field - but Henry Charles ran it down for the final out of the night.

Eric Yardley (2-4) earned the win with 1.1 scoreless innings out of the Fort Wayne bullpen while Butler (8) survived the ninth inning for the save. The duo combined with Colby Blueberg to provide the TinCaps with four shutout innings of relief.

Reininger (4-4) suffered his second loss in as many outings, allowing one unearned run on two hits in two innings of work.

Earlier in the game, each team mounted a rally with two outs and the bases empty to crack the scoreboard.

In the bottom of the fourth, Reyes drilled a double to left and Bauers worked a 10-pitch at-bat before lining an RBI-single into right field. In the top of the fifth, Kivett laid down a bunt single and Wynton Bernard doubled him home to even the score at 1-1.

In his final start of the regular season, Whitecaps' starting pitcher Austin Kubitza turned in a strong performance in his last tune-up before the post-season. The 22-year-old right-hander allowed just one run over six innings, scattering six hits with four strikeouts and no walks in the no-decision.

Kubitza is on track to start the Whitecaps' post-season opener on Wednesday, September 3.

The Whitecaps continue their final road trip of the regular season with a 7:05 p.m. game on Thursday night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps. LHP Kevin Ziomek (10-6, 2.23) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Jimmi Brasoban (2-4, 6.64) of Fort Wayne. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will feature post-game fireworks on Saturday, August 30, and the Whitecaps are guaranteed at least one home playoff game on Thursday, September 4. 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 August 27, 2014


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