Tight game turns to a blowout win
May 27, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BATTLE CREEK, MI - A two-run single by Mike Hernandez in the seventh inning put the Whitecaps on top for good in a 7-1 triumph over Southwest Michigan. The win keeps West Michigan within a half game of first place Lansing in the Midwest League Eastern Division.
The go-ahead hit came on a two-out, 3-2 pitch from Devil Rays reliever Aaron Walker, who came on to face Hernandez after Drew Bigda walked the bases loaded.
Wade Davis, the Midwest League lead in ERA - 0.93 coming in - retired the first six Whitecaps batters of the game. Will Rhymes broke up the streak with a lead off double in the third. Mark Haske followed with a single to right that drove in Rhymes for a 1-0 West Michigan lead.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Burke Badenhop retired ten batters in a row to start the game. Caesar Suarez ended that run with a one-out triple to the right field wall in the fourth. Garrett Groce followed with a ground ball to short that drove in Suarez to tie the game, 1-1.
West Michigan piled on four runs in the ninth inning off reliever Billy Evers. Three of the runs were unearned. Hernandez completed his night with an RBI walk, Rafael Mendez scored on a wild pitch and Justin Justice delivered a two-run single for the final margin of victory.
Badenhop pitched seven innings and allowed just two base runners: Suarez and John Matulia, who singled with two out in the sixth. With five strikeouts, which all came after the fourth inning, Badenhop earned the win and improved to 5-1.
Anthony Claggett and Lavon Lewis each had scoreless innings of relief for West Michigan.
Last of the Half: The final meeting of the first half between the Whitecaps and Devil Rays is Sunday in Battle Creek. LHP Luke French (4-3, 3.57) is scheduled to be on the mound for West Michigan against Southwest Michigan RHP Greg Reinhard (0-4, 5.21). First pitch is slated for 3:35 p.m. The Whitecaps Pre Game Show begins at 3:25 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL, the Whitecaps Radio Network and at wbbl.com.
Midwest League Stories from May 27, 2006
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- Sadlowski throws eight scoreless, carries no-hit bid into the fifth - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Hendricks Three Run Double Cements Hawks Win - South Bend Silver Hawks
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- Tight game turns to a blowout win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Lugnuts Throttle Wizards - Lansing Lugnuts
- Bees Continue Winning Ways - Burlington Bees
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