Wells leads offense in home-opening win
Published on April 7, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK - The West Michigan Whitecaps are 5- 0 and are within a game of matching the best start in team history following an 11-1 drubbing of Great Lakes in the âCaps home opener. Casper Wells led the 14-hit West Michigan attack by going 4-for-5 with a pair of home runs and four RBI. Wells hit solo shots to lead off both the third and sixth innings and delivered a two-run single in the seventh. He is the first Whitecaps to hit two home runs in one game at Fifth Third Ballpark since Kelly Hunt on August 27, 2004 versus Wisconsin. Jon Kibler made his first start as a Whitecap and tossed five innings with three hits and one unearned run allowed. The Michigan State product also struck out four and yielded no walks.
Every player in the West Michigan lineup either recorded a hit or reached base except for third baseman Ronnie Bourquin who had collected at least one RBI in each of his first four games.
Chris Carlson had two doubles while Audy Ciriaco and Kody Kaiser each had RBI triples. Eight of the Whitecaps' 14 hits went for extra bases.
In the first five games of the season, the Whitecaps have out hit the opposition, 60-27 and have outscored opponents, 44-13, including three games with a double-digit run output. Santo Mieses relieved Kibler and tossed three perfect innings for West Michigan. Andrew Hess threw a scoreless ninth for the âCaps.
Mark McBratney went 3-for-5 and scored four runs for the Whitecaps.
The only Loons run of the night came on a sacrifice fly by Erik Kanaby. Joseph Becker scored on the play. He reached base on an error to start the third inning. Travis Vetters went 2-for-3 to account for half of the Loons' four hits.
Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2008
- Wells 'Grand' in Return Home - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Break Tie in 8th, Win Home Opener 3-2 - Dayton Dragons
- Chiefs Fall 8-0 Monday Night - Peoria Chiefs
- Wells leads offense in home-opening win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Wisconsin Timber Rattlers vs. Clinton LumberKings (4/7/08) - Clinton LumberKings
- Lugnuts take home opener, 12-6 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Bees Lose First Road Game Of Season - Burlington Bees
- Cougars Off to Their Best Start Ever - Kane County Cougars
- Kernels Tumble In Home Opener, 12-7 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Dragons Add Infielder Prior To Monday's Home Opener - Dayton Dragons
- First Round Pick Coming To Fort Wayne - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Chiefs Prepare for the Season's First Homestand - Peoria Chiefs
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Other Recent West Michigan Whitecaps Stories
- 'Caps Blast Past Lake County, 8-4
- 'Caps Drop Series Opener to Captains, 4-2
- 'Caps Take Series in Skubal's Dominant Return
- 'Caps Slay Dragons, 11-3
- Sojka Sends Whitecaps to Wild Walk-off Win
