MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Perez Homers, Flashes Leather To Lead Whitecaps To Sweep

Published on July 30, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


EASTLAKE, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps picked up their first series sweep of the season with a 1-0 win over the Lake County Captains on Friday night at Classic Park.

West Michigan (12-21, 38-64) got a tremendous performance from shortstop Hernan Perez, who provided stellar defense and the game-winning home run to help Trevor Feeney and Jordan Pratt throw a combined seven-hit shutout. Lake County (14-19, 58-44) was unable to support a stellar start by Brett Brach, who matched Feeney zero for zero until the Whitecaps broke through in the sixth.

As a scoreless tie cruised into the middle innings, Perez proved to be the difference maker on both sides of the ball.

With a runner at first and one out in the bottom of the fourth, the 19-year-old shortstop hustled to his right to get in front of a groundball in the hole, fielding and throwing to second in one motion to cut down the lead runner and help quiet the rally. One inning later, he raced back into the hole on a leadoff grounder to make a difficult backhanded play, planting and firing a one-hop strike to first for another impressive out.

In the bottom of the sixth, the talented Venezuelan teenager made his presence felt at the plate. Leading off the inning, Perez hammered a 1-2 pitch onto the bleachers beyond the left field fence for his third home run of the season, giving the Whitecaps a 1-0 lead.

As it turned out, his best was yet to come.

Perez flashed the leather one more time in the seventh, racing out to shallow center and making a tremendous over-the-shoulder stab to help stymie another Captains' rally. Later in the frame, Feeney struck out Jason Smit with a runner at third to preserve the 1-0 edge.

Things got even stickier in the eighth when Feeney gave way to reliever Jordan Pratt with runners at first and second and one away. After a groundout advanced the runners to second and third, the Captains' Casey Frawley fought off a jam-shot liner up the middle that appeared destined to sneak into center field and plate two runs. With the game on the line, Perez raced to his left to field the ball behind second base, throwing awkwardly on the run to retire Frawley and prevent the runs from scoring.

Feeney (8-10) earned the win with 7.1 scoreless innings, holding the Captains to six hits - all singles - without issuing a walk. He turned in his fourth consecutive quality start and 15th overall in his 22nd start of the year, lowering his ERA to 3.31.

Pratt (1) went the rest of the way, stranding a pair of runners in the eighth on his way to a five-out save. He allowed one hit and struck out one, earning his first professional save just two days after picking up the first win of his pro career.

Brach (2-6) suffered the tough luck loss for Lake County, giving up just one run on three hits over seven strong innings. He struck out three and walked one, but served up the leadoff homer by Perez in the sixth inning that decided the game.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark to start a seven-game homestand with a 7:00 p.m. start against the Dayton Dragons on Saturday, July 31. LHP Jared Wesson (3-1, 2.97) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Jacob Johnson (5-6, 4.67) of the Dragons in a game that will feature post-game fireworks presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 30, 2010


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