Three wins in a row for the Whitecaps
April 23, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK - Luke French pitched seven innings as the Whitecaps starter and Matt Joyce broke a seven-game team home run slump as West Michigan defeated Clinton for the third day in a row, 6-4.
The Whitecaps tallied three runs in the second inning, thanks to a missed tag of home plate by catcher Ben Crabtree. With the bases loaded and one out, Pedro Cotto grounded into what appeared to be a 3-2-3 double play to end the inning. But Crabtree did not tag home plate when he received the throw from first baseman Brian Valichka.
Justin Justice scored and the Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead.
Then Mark Haske hit a ground ball to Valichka, who flipped the ball past pitcher Kyle Rogers for an error that plated two more runs and a 3-0 advantage.
Joyce hit a two-run homer in the third inning for a 5-0 lead.
John Mayberry and Freddie Thon hit back-to-back home runs in the top of the fourth. Mayberry's shot to center was for two runs, so Clinton pulled to within two at 5-3.
Matt Smith added another LumberKing home run with two out in the seventh and the lead was trimmed to 5-4.
In the bottom of the seventh, Cameron Maybin tripled to right center and Mike Hollimon followed with a ground rule RBI double, proving the final margin of victory.
Ricky Steik threw two scoreless innings of relief to earn his first save. It was the first save of the Whitecaps season not earned by Orlando Perdomo, who pitched in each of the two previous games.
The Whitecaps are 10-6 and four games above .500 for the first time this season.
Looking for a Sweep: West Michigan will try to complete a four game sweep of Clinton on Monday night. LHP Zach Phillips (1-0, 1.06) will be on the mound for the LumberKings against Whitecaps LHP Ramon Garcia (2-1, 1.50). First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. The Whitecaps Pre Game Show begins at 6:25 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL, on the Whitecaps Radio Network and at wbbl.com.
Midwest League Stories from April 23, 2006
- Three Homers Still Not Enough Against Whitecaps - Clinton LumberKings
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- Lugnuts Win 17 Inning Marathon - Lansing Lugnuts
- Devil Rays Walk Kernels to a Victory - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Chiefs Erase Seven-Run Deficit to Win 13-11 - Peoria Chiefs
- Festa reaches four times in Power loss - MWL1
- Early lead slips away from Swing - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Ferrer leads Hawks past Rattlers - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Fisher Hooks Win Number Two in 2006 - Dayton Dragons
- Three wins in a row for the Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Cougars Drop Pitchers Duel in Dayton - Kane County Cougars
- Hawks swoop in late to swipe a win - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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