West Michigan Explodes Offensively In 12-9 Win
August 29, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
FORT WAYNE, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps entered play on Friday night in need of a win and in need of some runs.
The 'Caps answered the bell quickly in their final road game of the regular season, jumping out to an 8-0 lead and holding on for a 12-9 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field.
West Michigan (40-27, 81-56) snapped a five-game losing and broke the franchise record for single-season strikeouts in the process, punching out 12 Fort Wayne (30-37, 60-76) batters for a year-to-date total of 1,188 strikeouts, eclipsing the previous record set in 1998.
The Whitecaps also got a boost from their starting battery of pitcher Chad Green and catcher Arvicent Perez, who both returned to action for the first time in at least a week due to injury.
The offensive onslaught started immediately. After scoring no more than four runs in any of the five losses that preceded the road trip finale, the Whitecaps scored four runs in each of the first two innings on Friday night. After struggling to a .132 (5-38) batting average with runners in scoring position during the season-long skid, the 'Caps were 8-for-17 in such situations on Friday.
Domingo Leyba opened the ballgame with a single to right that extended his hitting streak to 10 games. Additional singles by Mike Gerber, Jeff Holm, Ross Kivett and Perez all led to runs as the 'Caps took a 4-0 lead.
Things unraveled further for the TinCaps in the second. After singles from Leyba and Javier Betancourt set the table, Gerber drilled a two-run double into the gap in left-center to chase Fort Wayne starter Cody Hebner from the game. Following a pitching change, Holm kept things rolling with an RBI-double and scored on a single by Pat Leyland to pad the cushion to 8-0.
Holm added a solo homer in the fourth, blasting his team-leading 11th bomb of the year and the 30th of his professional career. By the time Javier Betancourt lined a two-run double over the left fielder's head in the fifth, the West Michigan lead swelled to 11-1.
Holm finished his night a triple shy of the cycle, going 3-for-5 with two RBI. Gerber was 2-for-5 with three RBI, Leyba and Betancourt each chipped in with two hits, and the Whitecaps pounded out 14 hits as a team to post their highest scoring game since August 7.
That was more than enough run support for Green (6-4), who turned in a strong start after having his last turn in the rotation skipped due to forearm tendonitis. The right-hander out of Louisville struck out eight without issuing a walk, allowing two runs - one earned - on five hits over five innings.
Fort Wayne rallied late to make things uncomfortable. Down 12-3 with two outs in the bottom of the ninth, the TinCaps strung together six straight hits and scored six runs to pull within 12-9.
The Whitecaps countered by bringing in Nate Fury (1), who recorded the last out of the game to earn his first professional save.
Hebner (2-5) suffered the loss, allowing seven runs on eight hits over just one inning of work.
The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark for a 7:00 p.m. game on Saturday, wrapping up the regular season with a three-game home series against Great Lakes over Labor Day weekend. RHP Jonathon Crawford (7-3, 3.03) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Zachary Bird (6-16, 4.37) of Great Lakes in a game that will be followed by Family Fare fireworks. The Whitecaps are also guaranteed at least one home playoff game on Thursday, September 4. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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