MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Six-Run Inning Dooms West Michigan

April 9, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - One night after capturing an emotional and energetic win in their home-opener, the West Michigan Whitecaps were done in by a six-run third inning in a 6-1 loss to the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Wednesday at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (3-3) got another two-hit night from 18-year-old prospect Javier Betancourt - already his fourth multi-hit effort through the first six games of the year - but a two-out surge by Wisconsin (3-3) in the third inning proved to be the decisive sequence of the game.

The Whitecaps held a 1-0 lead with two outs in the third inning when the wheels fell off.

West Michigan starter Kevin Ziomek, the Detroit Tigers' second-round pick in the 2013 draft, nearly got out of the inning before a nine-pitch plate appearance by Clint Coulter resulted in a walk to load the bases. Jose Pena followed with a liner to left for a two-run single, putting the Timber Rattlers in front by a 2-1 score.

Moments later, the runners were on the move when catcher Bennett Pickar threw to second and had Pena caught stealing, but the sliding baserunner knocked the baseball out of shortstop Curt Powell's glove to advance safely. The play was charged as an error to Powell, extending the inning for Wisconsin.

After a walk reloaded the bases, Ziomek was taken out. Reliever Jon Maciel was promptly tagged for a two-run single by Rafael Neda and a two-run double by Angel Ortega as the Timber Rattlers seized a commanding 6-1 advantage.

Though Maciel went on to retire 13 of the next 14 batters he faced over 4.1 solid innings, the damage was done.

Ziomek (0-1) took the loss, charged with five runs - two earned - on two hits with six walks and four strikeouts over 2.2 innings.

The win went to Wisconsin's Taylor Williams (1-0), who dealt four shutout innings of relief after entering the game as the second member of the Timber Rattlers' piggyback tandem.

Betancourt was joined by Dominic Ficociello and Curt Powell in the hit department. All three batters have hit safely in each of the Whitecaps' six games this season.

The Whitecaps continue their first homestand of the season at 12:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon with the rubber match of a three-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Chad Green is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Tristan Archer of the Timber Rattlers on an Altogas Thrifty Thursday. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from April 9, 2014


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