MWL1 Fort Wayne TinCaps

Westlake's Walk-Off Gives Whitecaps 2-1 Win

Published on May 3, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Fort Wayne TinCaps News Release


Comstock Park, Mich. - Aaron Westlake's solo home run in the bottom of the 11th inning lifted the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 2-1 victory over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark. The TinCaps held a 1-0 advantage after six innings, but could not hang on for the win despite a stellar outing from starter Adys Portillo.

The 20-year-old right-hander threw a career-high seven innings, and allowed just two hits. Portillo walked one batter and struck out six, as he retired the final 13 batters he faced in order. Fort Wayne (10-17) was held without a base hit over the first five innings. A walk issued to Casey McElroy and Mike Gallic being hit by a pitch accounted for the only two baserunners the TinCaps had over the first five. In the sixth, Jace Peterson reached on a two-out walk, stole second, and was singled home by Justin Miller to make it 1-0 Fort Wayne.

Daniel Cropper (BS) came on in relief of Portillo, trying to hold a 1-0 lead for Fort Wayne and send the game to the ninth. Cropper surrendered a one-out double to Curt Casali, and then got Jeff Holm to ground out for the second out of the frame. Chad Wright, however, tied the game at one in the eighth with an RBI single to left. At the time, that was only the third hit of the game for the Whitecaps.

The TinCaps did not put a runner on base in either the ninth or the 10th against West Michigan's Michael Torrealba, and despite putting runners at first and second in the 11th against Daniel Bennett (2-1), they could not score.

Successful at keeping the Whitecaps at bay in the ninth and 10th, Luiz De La Cruz (1-3) stayed in the game to pitch the 11th for the TinCaps. But with one out in the inning, Aaron Westlake lined a ball over the fence in right for a walk-off home run. It was the first extra innings affair of the year for Fort Wayne, while West Michigan (14-13) improved to 2-2 in extras.

The series finale takes place on Friday night. The scheduled starters are Joe Ross for Fort Wayne and Tommy Collier for West Michigan. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 PM.

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