Palka Rains Home Runs on Captains, Hawks Win

June 10, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


The South Bend Silver Hawks (38-26) earned an important comeback victory over the Lake County Captains (24-41) in a steady rain at Four Winds Field on Tuesday night. First baseman Daniel Palka launched two home runs and drove in five runs to lead the Hawks to the win after trailing 3-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning with the weather a threat to end the game early.

Lake County, the Class-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians, jumped ahead of the Hawks with two runs in the top of the first inning. Hawks starter Blayne Weller retired the leadoff hitter and got ahead of center fielder Clint Frazier 0-2 but left a pitch over the plate and gave up a solo homer to left to give the Captains a 1-0 lead. Catcher Eric Haase then doubled the lead by going back-to-back over the left field wall for a 2-0 lead.

The Captains extended their lead to 3-0 in the top of the second. Left fielder Dorssys Paulino walked to lead off the inning. Second baseman Claudio Bautista singled to right that put runners at the corners with no outs. Weller struck out the next hitter but then surrendered an RBI single to shortstop Ivan Castillo that scored Paulino from third and left runners at the corners with one out. Weller escaped any further damage by inducing right fielder Logan Vick to hit into a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

Neither team was able to score over the next few innings. Captains starter Mitch Brown limited the Hawks to just two baserunners over five innings of work. Meanwhile, the Hawks turned two double plays behind Weller to keep the game at 3-0 after five innings as the rain began to fall steadily at Four Winds Field.

With more rain in the forecast, the Hawks needed to tie the game up quickly and they responded in the bottom of the sixth inning. Matt Whitehouse entered in relief of Brown and after retiring the first batter he faced, surrendered a single to shortstop Andrew Velazquez who went to second on an errant throw by the shortstop. Center fielder Breland Almadova walked to put runners at first and second and a subsequent wild pitch advanced the runners to second and third with one out. First baseman Daniel Palka then tied the game with a three-run blast to right field on a 2-2 pitch.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, took the lead for good in the bottom of the seventh inning. With the game a threat to be called at any moment, Whitehouse threw three pitches to Hawks designated hitter Marty Herum before having to leave the game with an arm injury. Wander Beras (L, 2-1) entered the game in relief and struck out Herum and catcher Michael Perez for the first two outs of the inning. Left fielder Zach Esquerra reached first via catcher's interference and second baseman Ryan Gebhardt lined a double into the left field corner that scored Esquerra for what proved to be the game-winning run.

The Hawks added a couple insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth off of Beras. Almadova led off with a walk and Palka followed with his second homerun of the game, this time going the opposite way over the left field fence on a 2-2 offering to give the Hawks a 6-3 lead. South Bend's bullpen completed the job, allowing just one baserunner in three innings of work. Bud Jeter (W, 1-0) pitched a clean seventh with two strikeouts to earn the win. Daniel Gibson picked up his league-leading 11th hold of the season with a 1-2-3 eighth inning and Silvino Bracho (S, 10) remained atop the league leaderboard in saves with a scoreless ninth inning.

The Hawks and Captains continue their series on Wednesday night with first pitch scheduled for 7:05pm. Righty Jordan Milbrath (1-7, 3.36 ERA) gets the start for the Captains while righty Austin Platt (1-1, 6.49 ERA) takes the hill for the Hawks. It is Kids Eat Free Wednesday as kids 12 and under get a voucher at the gate for a free hot dog, chips, and a drink.



Midwest League Stories from June 10, 2014


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