
Marathon game goes to Whitecaps, 6-5
May 1, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Left fielder Brent Wyatt's RBI single in the top of the 15th inning gave the West Michigan Whitecaps (15-5) a 6-5 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels (10-11) in the longest game of the âCaps' 2009 season. The win in the series finale enabled the âCaps to claim the series, 2-1, as West Michigan has won every series they've played in this year.
In the fifteenth, SS Gustavo Nunez led off with a triple. Wyatt sliced a line drive to right, and the Whitecaps had their third lead of the game. Reliever Tyler Conn (1-0) collected his first win with the team as he worked the fourteenth and fifteenth innings.
Casey Crosby started for the Whitecaps, but reliever Matt Hoffman turned in the day's longest stint on the mound. Crosby threw 4 innings, allowing 6 hits and 4 earned runs. He struck out 6 and walked two. Hoffman entered the game in relief in the fifth, and he continued to throw through the 12th inning. Over that span, Hoffman did not allow a run while giving up 4 hits and striking out five. He demonstrated amazing control by not walking any hitters in his time on the hill.
The Whitecaps and the Kernels scored three runs apiece in the fourth inning. Cedar Rapids moved ahead, 4-3, in the fifth when Alexi Amarista singled home Darwin Perez.
West Michigan answered in the seventh. A sacrifice fly to center by Bryan Pounds brought home CF Ben Guez, and the game was tied at four.
Still tied in the thirteenth, the Whitecaps edged ahead 5-4 on Brandon Douglas's home plate collision with Anel De Los Santos after Bryan Pounds had doubled.
Cedar Rapids put up one final tally in the bottom half of the thirteenth to tie the game as Gabe Jacobo pushed home Matt Crawford with an RBI hit.
Both teams had plenty of base runners throughout the game. Cedar Rapids and West Michigan each had 13 hits, with the two teams combining to leave 27 runners on base. âCaps catcher Joe Bowen led the offense with 3 hits, including a triple, and 2 RBI. Brandon Douglas, Bryan Pounds, and Jordan Lennerton all had two hits in the game.
The Whitecaps will travel to Burlington, IA for a weekend series with the Bees. âCaps right hander Luke Putkonen gets the start in game one which is scheduled to begin on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m. EST.
Midwest League Stories from May 1, 2009
- Rattlers Take Series with 6-4 Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Bees Shut Out Opponent for First Time This Season - Burlington Bees
- Bandits fall short of perfect homestand - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Cougars Enjoy Pair of Walk-Off Wins - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons Win in twelve innings - Dayton Dragons
- Duran rocks Loons - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Hawks End Skid, Beat Bandits 7-3 - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Marathon game goes to Whitecaps, 6-5 - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Chiefs Win Streak Ends With 1-0 Loss Friday Night - Peoria Chiefs
- Marathon game goes to Whitecaps, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Roster Move Correction - Clinton LumberKings
- Mulligan Cardinals Pitcher of the Month - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Highly-Touted Pitching Prospect Joins Dragons - Dayton Dragons
- Mulligan Cardinals Pitcher Of The Month - Quad Cities River Bandits
- LumberKings Call Hensley Up To West Tenn - Clinton LumberKings
- Bolivar Earns First Bandits Promotion Of 2009 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Peoria Chiefs Roster Move - Peoria Chiefs
- Nominees For April Player Of The Month Announced - Dayton Dragons
- Dragons GameDay - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Win Sixth Straight With Another Big Offensive Game - Peoria Chiefs
- Whitecaps Edge Kernels, Even Series - West Michigan Whitecaps
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.
Other Recent West Michigan Whitecaps Stories
- Pacheco Helps 'Caps Rally Again in Ten, 5-4
- Six-Run Fifth Sends 'Caps to Victory
- Pacheco Hits First Walk-Off Slam in Whitecaps History
- Patrick Plays Hero in Doubleheader Split
- 'Caps Fall to Loons, 3-2

