Washington Wild Things Top the Chillicothe Paints

Published on May 16, 2003 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Southwest Michigan Devil Rays News Release


BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Battle Creek outfielder Rudy Guillen claimed the Old Navy Home Run Jackpot in the opener, but the Fort Wayne Wizards made the Yankees pay in the nightcap of a Midwest League baseball double-header Friday night at C.O. Brown Stadium. Guillen hit a solo home run to help the Yankees grab a 2-1 win in the first game. Fort Wayne rolled to a 13-0 victory in the second game. The Yankees open a four-game home series with Kane County on Saturday night.

In the opener, Guillen homered in the Old Navy Home Run Jackpot inning to win a $100 Old Navy gift card, adding to the $475 gift card jackpot he won earlier this month. He is also leading in the Old Navy monthly home run contest, which would pay another $100 gift card.

The fourth-inning home run gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead. Fort Wayne tied the score with a run in the sixth. Battle Creek scored the winning run in the bottom of the sixth on a single by Matt Carson, a walk to Eric Verbryke and an error.

Juan Camacho and Gabe Lopez had a pair of hits each for the Yankees.

Both starters went the distance. Battle Creek right-hander Jose Garcia (4-2) scattered five hits, struck out four and walked two in seven innings. Brian Whitaker (3-1) allowed seven hits, struck out three and walked one in six innings for the Wizards.

In the nightcap, Fort Wayne fell just one run shy of handing the Yankees their worst loss in franchise history - 14-0 to Burlington in 1997.

The Wizards scored three runs in the first inning and four in the second off starter Brandon Harmsen (1-3) to take a 7-0 lead and never looked back.

Luke Steidlmayer (1-4) picked up the win for Fort Wayne. The Yankees managed just four hits - two by Matt Carson.

Fort Wayne won three of the four games in the series and now holds a 6-2 lead over the Yankees this season.

It was the Yankees' eighth double-header of the season - with seven splits and one sweep the result. Last season, the Michigan Battle Cats played just six double-headers all season.

The largest home crowd of the season (2,703) was on hand for the double-header. Fireworks followed the nightcap. Last season, the Battle Cats were 0-6 in games followed by fireworks. This season, the Yankees are 0-3.

BATTLE CREEK vs. KANE COUNTY
Sat - RHP Jeremy King (3-3, 3.60) vs. LHP Drew Dickinson (4-2, 2.96)
Sun - RHP Jose Valdez (3-2, 4.17) vs. RHP Joe Blanton (2-5, 3.06)
Mon - RHP Ray Clark (0-1, 3.32) vs. RHP Shane Komine (6-0, 1.82)
Tue - RHP Anderson Garcia (1-2, 1.63) vs. LHP Bill Murphy (2-3, 2.78)

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Midwest League Stories from May 16, 2003


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