Offense stuck in low gear
May 21, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - For the third day in a row the Whitecaps offense struggled, resulting in a 4-1 loss at Cedar Rapids. Over the past 46 innings, West Michigan has scored just nine runs and has been unable to score in 25 of the first 27 inning of the series against the Kernels. Three Cedar Rapids pitchers did the trick during a rain-hampered game on Saturday night. Francisco Cordova, who came on in relief following a rain delay in the second inning went five innings with no runs and just three hits allowed to earn the win. In was the shortest nine-inning game of the season for the Whitecaps, not including three hours and 32 minutes of rain delays. There was a delay of 1:37 to start the game, then a 1:44 delay in the middle of the second. Matt Righter was the starting pitcher for West Michigan and faced only three batters in the first. Ian Ostlund came on after the rain delay and pitched three scoreless innings. However, the Kernels found a way to score against Dan Konecny, who surrendered two runs on seven hits in two innings of work to absorb the loss. Freddy Sandoval and Aaron Peel each had RBI hits against Konecny in the sixth. In the eighth, Jay Sborz allowed two runs that sealed the win for Cedar Rapids. Sborz hit two batters, one with the bases loaded to drive in a run. Jordan Renz then delivered a sacrifice fly for a 4-1 lead. The only West Michigan run came in the top of the eighth following a lead off double by Nick McIntyre. Brent Dlugach hit a ball up the middle that was stopped on a leaping dive by second baseman Alexis Casilla, who threw to first in time to retire Dlugach. McIntyre scored on the play and the lead was cut to 2-1. Jody Roughton went 2-for-4 to lead the team in hits.
Randor Report: RHP Randor Bierd, who was promoted from the Whitecaps to Double Erie for a spot start on Friday pitched well for the Seawolves. In six innings, ha allowed two runs on eight hits with no walks and earned the victory as Erie defeated New Britain, 10-3 and reclaimed a share of first place in the Southern Division. Avoiding a Sweep: The Whitecaps will try to avoid being swept in a series for the first time this season with the series finale in Cedar Rapids on Sunday. RHP Dallas Trahern (1-4, 2.91) will be on the mound for West Michigan against Kernels RHP Rafael Rodriguez (2-2, 2.25). First pitch is scheduled for 3:00 p.m. EDT. The Eikenhout Incorporated Pre Game Show will begin at 2:50 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL and mlive.com.
Midwest League Stories from May 21, 2005
- Cougars Go Deep, Hang On Against Wizards - Kane County Cougars
- Swing outslug Bees - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Chiefs beat Day 1-0 - Peoria Chiefs
- Offense stuck in low gear - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Bees Comeback Falls Short Against Swing - Burlington Bees
- Snappers Pound Silverhawks - Beloit Sky Carp
- Peoria Pitching Stifles Dayton, 1-0 - Dayton Dragons
- Devil Rays pick up second straight win - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Fasano goes deep to beat Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Off the DL and Back on the Hill - Dayton Dragons
- Snappers May 26th Day Game Change - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kernels announce roster move - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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