September starts with a bang
September 1, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The South Bend Silver Hawks may wind up winning the second half title in the Midwest League's Eastern Division, but it will have to wait until the Hawks play in Peoria this weekend. West Michigan rallied from an early 2-0 deficit to win, 6-3 and stay alive in the race.
Wilkin Ramirez tied the game, 2-2 with a lead off home run in the sixth inning. It was the 16th home run of the season for Ramirez, who ties Robert Fick (1997) and Jacques Landry (1997) for third on the Whitecaps all-time single-season list.
Last season, Kelly Hunt hit 21 home runs and Garth McKinney went deep 19 times. Chris Robinson added an insurance run with a solo shot down the right field line in the eighth to put West Michigan on top, 6-2.
Jair Jurrjens allowed three hits and two runs to the first four South Bend batters in the game, but then clamped down to retire the next 15 hitters in a row. Jurrjens earned the win in his final regular season start to finish 12-6. He is the Whitecaps' only 10-game winner of the year.
Back-to-back RBI doubles by Carlos Gonzales and Cesar Nicolas put the Silver Hawks on top in the first.
Following the Ramirez home run in the sixth, West Michigan grabbed the lead when Brent Dlugach singled, sending Clete Thomas from second to third. A throw to third behind Thomas was dropped by Mark Reynolds, which allowed Thomas to race home for a 3-2 advantage.
In the seventh inning, Ramirez and Dlugach each had RBI singles as the lead grew to 5-2.
Reliever Ed Clelland gave up a lead off triple to Alberto Gonzalez in the ninth and allowed Gonzalez to score, but Kevin Whelan came on to strike out the last two batters and earn his 10th consecutive save. Whelan matches Collin Mahoney, who was the Whitecaps closer at the beginning of the season and left the team with 10 saves.
South Bend's magic number to clinch the second half is still 2. The Whitecaps magic number is 2 to clinch the top seed out of the East in the second half. Southwest Michigan stayed within three games of West Michigan by defeating Kane County, 2-0.
Midwest League Stories from September 1, 2005
- Kernels split series with Swing but remain alive in playoff race - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- LumberKings play spoiler on Fan Appreciation Night - Burlington Bees
- Snappers win, regain upper hand In playoff race - Beloit Sky Carp
- Going out with a bang - Dayton Dragons
- Stavinoha's home run seals Swing win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Lugnuts do their part, but Devil Ray win ends playoff hopes - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars blanked in Battle Creek - Kane County Cougars
- September starts with a bang - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Dragons maul Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Houser pitches Devil Rays into playoffs - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Midwest League Playoffs 101 - Beloit Sky Carp
- Kernels to make presentation to American Red Cross - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Chiefs to Raise Money for Hurrican Relief Efforts - Peoria Chiefs
- Devil Rays set to host a jersey auction - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Wizards have saved the best for last - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars fight for last playoff spot - Kane County Cougars
- L-Kings fall to Bees - Clinton LumberKings
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