Unbeaten Whitecaps win see-saw battle
Published on April 5, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
SOUTH BEND, IN - The Whitecaps fell behind early, took a three-run lead and slipped back into a tie before coming through with a 5-4 victory in South Bend.
West Michigan is 3-0 to start the season for the second time in team history and for the first time since a 6-0 start in 2001.
Mark McBratney went 3-for-4 for West Michigan with an RBI double in the fifth inning that gave the 'Caps a 3-1 lead and an RBI single in the seventh that put the Whitecaps ahead for good. McBratney also scored in the fifth.
Justin Henry was 2-for-4 with a double. Henry stole two bases and scored following a single in the fifth inning. Joe Tucker delivered an RBI single to drive in McBratney and cap a three-run rally in the fifth, which put West Michigan on top, 4-1.
South Bend rallied for three runs in the sixth inning. Aaron Hanke led off the frame with the first Silver Hawks home run of the season. Reliever Andrew Hess allowed two more 'Hawks to reach base in the inning before Santo Mieses came on to pitch. Mieses threw a wild pitch that allowed Clayton Conner to score from second. Ramon Ramirez then followed with an RBI single, which tied the game, 4-4. Mieses managed to finish the sixth and pitched the seventh to earn the win.
Rudy Darrow threw a perfect eighth inning for West Michigan and has not allowed a base runner in three innings of work this season. Noah Krol made his Whitecaps debut held South Bend scoreless in the ninth to earn a save. Krol led the New York-Penn League last season with 17 saves for the Oneonta Tigers.
Tom Layne, who tossed 1.2 innings and allowed the run in the seventh, took the loss for the Silver Hawks.
Midwest League Stories from April 5, 2008
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- Even Better In Game Two - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
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