MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Slow but Steady, 'Caps Rally for Victory

Published on September 5, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps celebrated their return to the post-season with a 5-4 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Sunday night at Parkview Field.

After having a playoff berth guaranteed by virtue of Lansing's loss earlier in the day, West Michigan (36-33, 62-76) overcame an early deficit by rattling off single runs in five consecutive innings. Corey Jones and Clay Jones each went 3-for-5 to lead the way, putting the Whitecaps in position to pull off a series sweep heading into Monday's regular season finale at Fort Wayne (40-29, 76-63).

The TinCaps landed the first blow by reaching the scoreboard in the bottom of the first inning. Jeudy Valdez started the rally with a one-out single while Jason Hagerty followed with a walk. After the runners advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, Nate Freiman smacked a two-run double that gave Fort Wayne a 2-0 lead.

The Whitecaps worked their way back into the game in the middle innings. Tony Plagman doubled in the fourth and scored on a one-out single by Clay Jones, while Corey Jones added a run-scoring single with two outs in the fifth that evened the score at 2-2.

In the bottom of the fifth, the TinCaps took advantage of a costly two-out error to recapture the lead. There were runners at first and second with two outs when Valdez skied a fly ball towards the foul line in shallow right. Alexis Espinoza raced over to make the play, but overran the ball and lunged back across his body as it fell to the ground. Both runners crossed the plate as Fort Wayne seized a 4-2 edge.

Despite the setback, the West Michigan Whitecaps continued to grind away and push runs across the plate.

Three of the first four batters in the sixth inning reached base on singles, while Jimmy Gulliver's run-scoring groundout cut the deficit to one. In the seventh, Hernan Perez drew a bases-loaded walk to collect his 50th RBI of the year and tie the score. The decisive rally came in the eighth, when Michael Rockett and Corey Jones each singled to put men at the corners and Tony Plagman delivered a sacrifice fly for the 5-4 lead.

That was enough to capture the victory thanks to a trio of Whitecaps pitchers that combined to hold Fort Wayne to just four hits.

Jared Wesson shrugged off a shaky first inning to throw six strong frames, allowing four runs - two earned - on just three hits while fanning six. Zach Samuels (4-1) earned the win by getting three outs in the seventh, while closer Kenny Faulk (12) struck out a pair and retired the last six men he faced on his way to a two-inning save.

TinCaps' reliever Josh Spence (2-2) suffered the loss after allowing two runs on four hits in two innings of work.

The Whitecaps close out the 2010 regular season with a 3:05 p.m. Labor Day matinee on Monday, September 6, at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne. RHP Victor Larez (8-11, 4.27) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against LHP Mike Watt (5-6, 3.83) of the TinCaps. West Michigan will return home to host the Lake County Captains for Game One of a best-of-three first-round playoff series at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 8. Fans will be able to take advantage of an Altogas Thrifty Playoffs, featuring $1 hot dogs and $2 beer, Pepsi products and pretzels at all 2010 playoff home games. 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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