MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Offensive Revival Reduces Magic Number To One

Published on September 4, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - Alexis Espinoza finished a single shy of the cycle and the West Michigan Whitecaps reduced their magic number to one with an 8-3 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Saturday night at Parkview Field.

West Michigan (35-33, 61-76) can clinch the Eastern Division's final playoff spot with a win in one of their two remaining games against Fort Wayne (40-28, 76-62), or by virtue of at least one Lansing Lugnuts' loss during their three-game series in Lake County. Saturday night's series-opener between Lansing and Lake County was postponed due to rain, so the Lugnuts and Captains will play a doubleheader on Sunday afternoon.

The Whitecaps' potent offense reawakened on Saturday in Fort Wayne after a quiet series in Lansing to end the week. Espinoza led the way with a 3-for-3 night that included three runs, three RBI, a triple and a home run.

The Whitecaps got on the board early thanks to single runs in each of the first three innings.

Leadoff man Jamie Johnson drew a walk to start the ballgame and came around to score a first-inning run on a fielder's choice groundout by Avisail Garcia. Espinoza added an opposite-field solo homer in the second inning that sliced just inside of the right field foul pole, while Gaynor added a no-doubter to left in the third that cleared the fence for a 3-0 lead.

The TinCaps countered in the bottom of the third with a little bit of help. Jonathan Galvez started the rally with a one-out double when left fielder Michael Rockett lost the high fly ball in the sky. A base hit by Everett Williams put men at the corners and Danny Payne followed with a liner to the left side, but the ball glanced off the third baseman's glove and down the left field line as Galvez came home to score. Later in the frame, the bases were loaded with two outs when Jedd Gyorko came through with a two-run single that tied the game at 3-3.

The deadlock was short-lived, however, as West Michigan countered with an immediate answer in the top of the fourth.

After Clay Jones singled and Rob Brantly walked to open the inning, Espinoza drilled a triple that split the gap in right-center and brought home both runners. Two batters later, a sacrifice fly from Johnson pushed the Whitecaps' lead to 6-3.

West Michigan tacked on insurance runs on sacrifice flies in the seventh and eighth innings to reach the 8-3 final.

Trevor Feeney (12-13) earned the win in his final start of the regular season, allowing three runs on seven hits over five solid frames. The 24-year-old workhorse established a number of new single-season franchise records during a stellar 2010 campaign, logging 184.2 innings pitched while boasting a rate of 1.07 walks per nine innings and a 5.59 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He also tied a franchise record on Saturday by making his 29th start.

After Feeney's departure, Nathan Newman threw three hitless innings of relief and Antonio Cruz chipped in with a scoreless ninth.

Jose De Paula (8-5) suffered the loss for Fort Wayne after getting roughed up for six runs on five hits over five innings of work.

The Whitecaps close out the 2010 regular season with a three-game road series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps that continues with game two at 7:05 p.m. on Sunday, September 5. LHP Jared Wesson (7-2, 3.48) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against RHP Jerry Sullivan (7-4, 4.05) of the TinCaps. Although the home portion of the 2010 regular season is complete, the Whitecaps are fighting for a playoff berth and will have a 7:00 p.m. home game at Fifth Third Ballpark on Wednesday, September 8, if they qualify for the post-season.

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