Quirky game leaves Whitecaps at a loss
May 18, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
PEORIA, IL - The Whitecaps turned a season-high four double plays, gave up their DH, and took nine innings from their starting pitcher but lost to Peoria, 2-1 in 11 innings. It marks the first time this season that West Michigan has lost back-to-back road games.
Matt Joyce put West Michigan on top, 1-0 with his fourth home run of the season in the fourth inning.
Starting pitcher Ramon Garcia made the lead stand until the ninth when Kyle Reynolds delivered an RBI single to tie the game, 1-1. Garcia finished the ninth and closer Orlando Perdomo pitched the tenth.
Anthony Claggett, who had not allowed a run all season came on for the eleventh inning but issued a lead off walk to catcher Jake Muyco. Four batters and two outs later, Jesus Valdez delivered the game winning hit on a bloop single to right that went in-and-out of the glove of diving right fielder Matt Joyce. Pinch runner Davy Gregg scored for Peoria.
Clagget pitched in 13 games to start the season without allowing a run. His scoreless streak was stopped at 19 innings. When Garcia allowed a run in the bottom of the ninth, he had not allowed a run in 15.1 innings and has given up just two runs in his last 28 innings of work.
Jeramy Laster was involved in two peculiar predicaments in the game. He was thrown out at home trying to stretch a triple into an inside the park home run. Laster was the starting DH, but entered the game as the center fielder in the ninth inning for defensive reasons.
Starting center fielder Justin Justice left the game after he was picked-off at first base in the third inning. Usual first baseman Ryan Roberson was put in to play left, starting left fielder Perdo Cotto moved to right and starting right fielder Matt Joyce moved to center for the first time this season.
When Laster entered the game in the ninth, Cotto and Joyce moved back to their starting positions and Ramon Garcia became seventh in the batting order.
In the tenth inning, Mark Haske pinch hit for Orlando Perdomo. At the end of the game, only reserve catcher Joel Roa was left on the bench for Whitecaps manager Matt Walbeck.
Chiefs manger Jody Davis rolled the dice by removing Muyco from the game for a pinch runner in the eleventh. Muyco was the second catcher of the game for Peoria. If there would have been a twelfth inning, Peoria would have likely lost their designated hitter who was the third catcher on the roster, Mark Reed.
West Michigan stranded 11 runners on base. In the last 20 innings, the Whitecaps have collected 16 hits, but have scored just 3 runs.
One More Against the Chiefs: The final game of the Whitecaps eight game road trip is Friday in Peoria. RHP Sendy Vasquez (2-3, 2.50) is scheduled to be on the mound for the Whitecaps against Chiefs RHP Mitch Atkins (3-0, 2.23). First pitch is slated for 7:30 p.m. Eastern Time. The Whitecaps Pre Game Show will begins at 7:20 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL and at wbbl.com.
Midwest League Stories from May 18, 2006
- Bees Take Down Lugnuts in Extras - Lansing Lugnuts
- Bees Beat Lansing in 12 for Fifth Straight Win - Burlington Bees
- Devil Rays Lose a Rain Soaked Game - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- LumberKings Lose Tough Game in Extras - Clinton LumberKings
- Great Starting Pitching Gives Dragons Double Header Sweep - Dayton Dragons
- Swing slug Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Home Runs Fuel Cougars Comeback - Kane County Cougars
- Quirky game leaves Whitecaps at a loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Early Rattler lead disappears - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Rally to Tie in Ninth, Then Walk Off in 11th - Peoria Chiefs
- Swing capture second straight - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Maybin, Sborz placed on the DL - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Top Pick Headed to West Michigan - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Garcia receives monthly award - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Mercado promoted - South Bend Silver Hawks
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