MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

West Michigan Surges Late For Comeback Win

Published on June 29, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Wynton Bernard reached base in all four of his trips to the plate and Willy Adames drove in two key runs as the West Michigan Whitecaps rallied late to beat the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 4-1, on Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (6-4, 47-33), who has limited Bowling Green (3-7, 35-44) to just two runs through the first three games of the series, improved their overall record to a season-high 14 games over .500. The 'Caps will try to complete a four-game sweep as their seven-game homestand continues with a 12:00 p.m. game on Monday afternoon.

Hot Rods' starting pitcher Chris Kirsch was excellent in allowing just two hits over six scoreless innings on Sunday, but the Whitecaps weathered the storm before busting loose against the Bowling Green bullpen.

Behind 1-0, Bernard sparked the comeback with a leadoff double in the seventh inning against reliever Brad Schreiber. Adames singled him home with one out to tie the game and advanced to third on a base hit by Pat Leyland. The 'Caps went ahead on a fielder's choice groundout by Jose Zambrano, who narrowly beat out a potential inning-ending double play as Adames scored from third for the 2-1 lead.

West Michigan added a pair of key insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth. A double by Dominic Ficociello, a walk by Jeff Holm and a bunt-single by Bernard loaded the bases. Adames came up again with one out and proceeded to battle reliever William Gabay to a nine-pitch at-bat. During the sequence, a wild pitch allowed all three runners to advance as Ficociello slid home safely. Moments later, Adames drilled a liner to left for a sacrifice fly that pushed the score to 4-1.

While the Whitecaps' offense plated four runs in two innings and the Bowling Green bullpen, the West Michigan pitching staff continued their recent success the Hot Rods' offense.

After starter Austin Kubitza dealt five shutout innings, reliever Will LaMarche allowed one unearned run to score in the top of the sixth as the visitors grabbed a 1-0 lead.

But, as the offense surged in front, Matt Davenport (4-2) and Zac Reininger (5) silenced the Bowling Green lineup and faced the minimum over the final three innings. Davenport induced three straight groundouts during a clean seventh inning and Reininger used a double play ball to work around a one-out single in the eighth.

The Whitecaps continue their seven-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark on Monday afternoon with a 12:00 p.m. first pitch against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. RHP Jon Maciel (3-3, 3.03) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Jorge Rodriguez (2-4, 4.91) of Bowling Green on a special daytime kids' day. Season, 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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Midwest League Stories from June 29, 2014


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