Swept by the Devil Rays
July 22, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BATTLE CREEK, MI - Following a scheduled day off and their second rain out of the week, the Whitecaps offense looked rusty to say the least and produced just three hits in each of two losses at Southwest Michigan, 5-2 and 3-1. The defeats take the Whitecaps from a one game lead over the Devil Rays to a one game deficit to the Devil Rays in the Midwest League second half East Division standings. In game one, West Michigan starting pitcher Jair Jurrjens was struck on the arm on a line drive off the bat of Southwest Michigan leadoff man Fernando Perez in the first inning. Jurrjens remained in the game to finish the inning, but allowed three runs, then left due to the same injury in the second. It was a one-hop come-backer off the bat of Perez that landed Whitecap Andrew Kown on the disabled list when Kown was struck in the mouth during the 'Caps home opener April 9. The Devil Rays sealed the win in game one with a two-run single from John Jaso in the fifth off reliever Anthony Tomey. Both of the runs were charged to reliever Lavon Lewis, who made his longest appearance of the season - 3.1 innings. In game two, Clete Thomas tripled to lead off the game and scored on an RBI single by Jeff Frazier for a 1-0 lead. However, the West Michigan offense was shut down in the last two-thirds of the game. Devil Rays starter Romelio Lopez left the mound in the third due to an injury. Richard De Los Santos and closer Jose De La Cruz then combined to retire the final 14 Whitecaps batters of the game. De Los Santos threw 3.2 perfect innings. Southwest Michigan took the lead on and RBI double from Chris Nowak in the fifth. Patrick Cottrell, who scored to tie the game, 1-1 in the fourth, launched his fifth home run of the season to lead off the sixth and make the lead 3-1.
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