MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Two Big Homers Propel 'Caps to Victory

Published on July 1, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


EASTLAKE, OH - Two big home runs were the difference for the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday night, as Trevor Feeney threw eight strong innings for a 3-2 win over the Lake County Captains in the opener of a three-game set at Classic Park.

West Michigan (2-5, 28-48) has won two games in a row after dropping their first five contests of the second half. Following a 15-3 blowout win in South Bend on Wednesday night, however, Thursday's game in Lake County (4-3, 48-28) was hotly contested and filled with drama.

The Whitecaps were trailing 1-0 when a power surge turned things around in the top of the sixth.

After managing just one hit against Captains' starter Matt Packer through the first five innings, Chris Sedon led off the sixth by turning on a 3-1 pitch and blasting it over the bleachers in left for a game-tying solo homer. Two outs later, Wade Gaynor reached base on an error that extended the inning and chased Packer from the game. Reliever Tyler Sturdevant - who entered play with a stingy 0.66 ERA and just two runs allowed in 27.1 innings - was promptly tagged for a two-run, opposite-field homer off the bat of Avisail Garcia that put West Michigan ahead, 3-1.

The Whitecaps only collected four hits on the night, but the pitching staff made the lead stand up.

Feeney (7-7) set the tone, twirling eight strong innings while allowing two runs - one earned - on six hits to earn the win. After a bumpy start, the righty gave up just one hit after the third inning and struck out seven while walking two. Zach Samuels (2) came in for the ninth and worked around a single and a walk to lock down the save.

Early on, Lake County took advantage of a pair of errors to take a 1-0 lead with an unearned run in the bottom of the third. After the Whitecaps countered with a pair of homers in the sixth, the Captains' Casey Frawley smacked a solo shot in the bottom of the eighth to cut West Michigan's lead to 3-2.

Later in the eighth, Lake County was threatening with the potential game-tying run aboard and two outs. Feeney countered with his biggest pitch of the night, freezing Kyle Smith with a 3-2 breaking ball to punch him out looking and end the rally.

The Captains were at it again in the ninth, putting runners at first and second with one away. But Samuels was up to the task, using his split-finger fastball from a sidearm delivery to strike out Cid before getting Jason Smit to line out and end the ballgame.

Packer (6-4) suffered the loss for Lake County despite allowing just two hits over 5.2 innings. He was charged with two runs - one earned - while fanning six and walking one.

The Whitecaps continue a six-game road trip at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, July 2, with game two of a three-game series in Lake County. LHP Jared Wesson (1-0, 1.69) is scheduled to start for West Michigan against RHP Brett Brach (1-3, 3.48) of the Captains. The ‘Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Sunday, July 4, with an Independence Day celebration against Dayton that will feature an exhilarating fireworks display presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. The contest will also be a Helen DeVos Children's Hospital Family Day and the first 1,000 fans will receive t-shirts thanks to Bissell.

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