MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Schotts Homers as 'Caps Snap Kernels' Win Streak

May 1, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Austin Schotts and Jake Stewart each homered during a tie-breaking five-run outburst in the bottom of the seventh inning as the West Michigan Whitecaps ended the Cedar Rapids Kernels' nine-game winning streak with a 7-2 victory on Wednesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Even after returning home from a disappointing 2-4 road trip, West Michigan (11-13) was not intimidated by a Cedar Rapids (18-6) team that rode into town on a nine-game winning streak with the best record in the Midwest League. While the Kernels boast the league's highest-scoring and most powerful lineup, it was the Whitecaps that put on the offensive show at Wednesday night's homestand-opener.

Cedar Rapids scored twice in the top of the first inning to take an early lead, but the Kernels managed just three hits the rest of the way and failed to score again. Whitecaps' starter Hudson Randall - who entered play with a league-leading 0.87 ERA - settled in to throw six solid innings, giving up the two runs on just three hits without figuring into the decision.

While Randall kept the 'Caps in the game, West Michigan chipped away against Kernels' starter Brett Lee.

Lance Durham led off the second inning with a double and came around to score on an out made by Bennett Pickar. In the fifth, Schotts singled and later came home on a two-out passed ball to even the game at 2-2.

That score remained until the Whitecaps' seventh-inning outburst.

The rally began with a leadoff single by Mario Martinez. Schotts then attempted to bunt his teammate into scoring position, but twice laid down bunts into foul ground and found himself with a two-strike count. Later in the at-bat, the count was full when the 19-year-old prospect lifted a towering fly ball to left field for his first home run of the season.

The tie-breaking blast gave West Michigan a 4-2 lead and chased Lee from the ballgame.

The rally was far from over. With one out, Stewart belted a solo homer off reliever Tim Atherton. Devon Travis and Jeff Holm each drew walks and scored on RBI-singles by Durham and Pickar, respectively. When the dust had settled, 10 men came to the plate during a rally that yielded five runs on five hits to propel the Whitecaps to a 7-2 lead.

Brennan Smith (2-0) earned the win out of the West Michigan bullpen after extending his scoreless innings streak to 14. The Ohio native took over for Randall in the seventh inning and allowed just two hits over three shutout frames.

Lee (2-1) suffered the loss despite allowing just one earned run through his first six innings. The left-hander's final line featured four runs - three earned - on eight hits over six frames.

Stewart and Schotts led the way for West Michigan. Stewart went 3-for-5 to raise his batting average to .338, while Schotts was 2-for-4 with two runs and two RBI. Durham was also 2-for-4 and Travis reached base in three of his four plate appearances.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand on Thursday night with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Fifth Third Ballpark. LHP Jordan John (0-2, 4.87) will take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Hudson Boyd (1-1, 6.00) of the Kernels. In addition to an Altogas Thrifty Thursday featuring food and beverage specials, it will also be Hipster Night at the ballpark. 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 May 1, 2013


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