MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Perez Rips Go-Ahead Double As Whitecaps Win In 13

Published on August 17, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps are having so much fun this season, they seem to be manufacturing ways to play more baseball.

On Sunday, the 'Caps played in their franchise-record 18th extra-inning game of the year, bouncing back from a late blown lead to outlast the Great Lakes Loons for a 7-5 win in 13 innings at Dow Diamond.

West Michigan (34-21, 75-50) held leads of 5-0 at the seventh inning stretch and 5-1 heading into the bottom of the ninth, but Great Lakes (26-29, 60-65) scored four runs in their last at-bat of regulation and tied the score on a two-out fly ball that was lost in the sun.

But the Whitecaps persevered. Domingo Leyba was 4-for-6 with his second four-hit game of the series, Arvicent Perez delivered the go-ahead hit in the top of the 13th inning, and the bullpen bounced back to retire the final 13 batters they faced in a resilient victory.

The game-winning rally in the top of the 13th inning started with a leadoff single by Domingo Leyba, who went 8-for-13 in the series. Leyba moved to second on a bunt before pinch-hitter Raph Rhymes drew three straight balls and was intentionally walked. After a wild pitch moved the runners to second and third, Perez ripped a double inside the left field line to plate both runners for a 7-5 advantage.

Nate Fury (1-0) threw two perfect innings to earn the win, striking out the side in the 12th inning before coming back out to finish the job in the 13th. He combined with Julio Felix to set down the final 13 Great Lakes batters and pitch four perfect extra innings. It was a gritty end to the outing for Felix, who retired the last seven men he faced after giving up all four runs during the game-tying rally in the ninth.

Jordan Hershiser (1-2) took the loss, allowing two runs on two hits after entering the game in the 13th inning as the Loons' sixth pitcher of the afternoon.

Prior to the ninth inning meltdown, the Whitecaps jumped ahead with an unearned run in the second inning and padded their lead with two runs apiece in the sixth and seventh. In the sixth, RBI-singles by Jeff Holm and Leyba made it a 3-0 game. One inning later, Wynton Bernard sliced a run-scoring triple into the right field corner and scored on a sacrifice fly to push the Whitecaps' lead to 5-0.

But, after five shutout innings from West Michigan starter Chad Green, the Loons rallied against the Whitecaps' bullpen.

It started when Devan Ahart broke up the shutout with a two-out single in the seventh inning, but the real damage was done in the bottom of the ninth.

The lead was 5-1 when Felix took over in search of the final three outs, but a leadoff walk followed by a single and run-scoring double by Ahart brought the game-tying run to the plate with nobody out. Felix induced consecutive run-scoring groundouts that shaved the lead to 5-4 but cleared the bases with two outs. Joey Curletta followed with a double high off the left field wall, but it appeared that Felix would escape the jam after inducing a seemingly harmless pop-up to left-center.

But center fielder Ross Kivett struggled with the sun and dropped the baseball as Great Lakes tied the game at 5-5.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Monday night for a 7:00 p.m. game against the Lansing Lugnuts to open their final extended homestand of the regular season. RHP Jonathon Crawford (6-3, 3.12) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against LHP Brent Powers (4-4, 4.56) of Lansing on a JQ99 FM All Faith's Night offering half-price box or reserved seats tickets to fans that bring a church or community bulletin to the box office. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from August 17, 2014


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