MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Battle Back To Sneak Out Win

Published on May 26, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


BOWLING GREEN, KY - The West Michigan Whitecaps picked up a key come-from-behind victory on Sunday night, edging the Bowling Green Hot Rods, 3-2, in the opener of a three-game series at Bowling Green Ballpark.

West Michigan (28-22) showed impressive resilience despite a discouraging start to the game, overcoming a plethora of hard-hit outs to scratch across three runs in the eighth. With the win over Bowling Green (22-27), the Whitecaps moved back into a tie with Dayton for the Eastern Division wild card spot with 20 games remaining in the first half.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the eighth, the game-winning rally began when Tim Remes battled back from an 0-2 count to draw a leadoff walk. On the very next pitch, Francisco Contreras drilled a liner to left to double Remes to third. One out later, Javier Betancourt hit a sharp grounder up the middle for a game-tying two-run single.

Moments later, Betancourt was at second when Raph Rhymes struck out swinging on a 3-2 pitch - but the ball bounced away from catcher Oscar Hernandez. While Hernandez struggled to locate the baseball, Betancourt raced around third base to score the go-ahead run on what was later ruled a passed ball.

Suddenly ahead 3-2, relievers Montreal Robertson and Julio Felix (1) each threw one scoreless inning to finish the job. With the save by Felix, every member of the Whitecaps' closer-by-committee bullpen now has at least one save.

Will LaMarche (2-0) also threw a single scoreless inning in the seventh and was rewarded with the win. Bowling Green's Jorge Rodriguez was charged with three runs - two earned - in two innings while suffering a blown save and a loss.

Prior to the late rally, the story of the game was the remarkable rate at which Whitecaps' batters were making hard-hit outs. Through the first six innings, seven of the 18 outs recorded by West Michigan hitters were line drives struck directly at Hot Rods defenders.

Bowling Green starter Chris Kirsch benefitted from the string of bad luck to throw seven shutout innings. He allowed just three hits with three strikeouts and one walk, and was also helped out by strong defense.

The 'Caps were behind 2-0 when they got their first baserunners in the fifth inning, loading the bases with two outs. Contreras sent a swinging bunt up the third base line, but Ty Young charged in and made a great play to retire the runner by a step. In the sixth, Wynton Bernard was at third with two outs when Dominic Ficociello hit a liner towards right field. Second baseman Darryl George stepped back and made a spectacular leaping catch to keep the Whitecaps off the scoreboard.

Bowling Green got their only offense on a two-run double by Granden Goetzman in the bottom of the fourth. Though Goetzman took third with nobody out on the throw home, Whitecaps' starter Austin Kubitza responded with three consecutive strikeouts to minimize the damage.

Kubitza went on to retire the last nine batters he faced, striking out six of them. Though he did not figure into the decision, the 6-foot-5 right-hander turned in another strong outing. He struck out eight over six innings while allowing two runs - one earned - on four hits.

The Whitecaps continue their six-game road trip on Monday afternoon with a 1:05 p.m. ET first pitch against the Bowling Green Hot Rods in Western Kentucky. RHP Jon Maciel (2-1, 3.12) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Ryne Stanek (0-2, 4.11) of Bowling Green. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be on Wednesday, May 28, at 6:35 p.m. featuring half-price box and reserved seats for fans 50 and over on an SA Advisory Group Silver Slugger Night. 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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