Seven-run First Sinks \'Caps Early
Published on June 11, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
DAVENPORT, IA - The West Michigan Whitecaps had their fate determined early on Friday night, serving up seven runs in the first inning of an 8-3 loss to the Quad Cities River Bandits at Modern Woodmen Park.
West Michigan (23-38) is now 0-4 to start their six-game Western Division road trip, losing the series opener against the second-place River Bandits after suffering a series sweep at the hands of first-place Cedar Rapids earlier in the week. After their offensive outburst set the tone, the Quad Cities (36-25) pitching staff racked up 13 strikeouts without issuing a walk to secure the victory.
The River Bandits jumped all over Whitecaps' starter Ramon Lebron, batting around in the bottom of the first inning and sending him to the showers early.
After singles by Michael Swinson and Ryan Jackson started the rally, Jason Stidham clubbed a two-run triple to the base of the wall in center that gave Quad Cities a 2-0 lead before an out had been recorded. After a groundout, Lebron issued consecutive walks to Robert Stock and Frederick Parejo that loaded the bases. C.J. Beatty drove home a run with a groundout to first for a 3-0 advantage.
Things continued to unravel from there. Edgar Lara followed by smacking an opposite-field double into the right-center field gap that plated two more runs. Lebron issued another walk before being removed, but reliever Nathan Newman was greeted with a two-run triple by Swinson that sailed over the head of Jamie Johnson in center field.
When the dust had settled, the River Bandits had sent 11 men to the plate and taken a 7-0 lead on five hits and three walks.
Quad Cities cruised to the victory from there, led by starter Deryk Hooker (3-2) and his five scoreless innings. The 20-year-old righty from San Diego scattered five hits while fanning six and walking none. In the process, Hooker lowered his ERA at Modern Woodmen Park to a paltry 0.30 with 36 strikeouts and just five walks in 30 innings of work.
Lara added a solo homer in the sixth to push the River Bandits lead to 8-0 before the Whitecaps finally cracked the scoreboard in the top of the eighth.
For the second straight night Wade Gaynor broke up the shutout with a late solo home run, blasting his fifth longball of the year with one out in the eighth. Jordan Lennerton followed with a double and Avisail Garcia reached on an infield single to put runners at the corners. Ronnie Bourquin plated Lennerton with a groundout and Michael Rockett added an RBI-single to bring the âCaps to within 8-3, but it was too little too late.
Lebron (4-4) suffered the loss for West Michigan after getting knocked around for seven runs on four hits and three walks over just two-thirds of an inning. Since throwing back-to-back scoreless outings on May 3 and May 8 to improve to 4-1 and lower his earned run average to 2.70, the 21-year-old Dominican has gone 0-3 with a 22.00 ERA in four shaky starts.
The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip to the Western Division with a 7:00 p.m. ET first pitch against the Quad Cities River Bandits on Saturday, June 12. West Michigan sends RHP Jacob Turner (1-3, 4.01) to the mound for the second game of a three-game series against RHP Eric Fornataro (5-4, 3.84) and the River Bandits. Following the road trip, the âCaps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark for a three-game set against the Lake County Captains that starts on Tuesday, June 15, with an all-you-can-eat food package on a Fat Tuesday and Senior Night. 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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