Whitecaps Bounce Back With Shutout Win
May 3, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
SOUTH BEND, IN - After dropping a heart-breaker on Sunday afternoon, the West Michigan Whitecaps bounced back with a 3-0 shutout victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks on Monday morning at Stanley Coveleski Regional Stadium.
West Michigan (8-17) took a three-run lead into the bottom of the ninth inning for a second consecutive day, but redeemed themselves with the win on Monday as Ramon Lebron and Cory Hamilton combined on a seven-hit shutout. South Bend (12-13) got a solid start from Dan Taylor, a native of Jenison, Michigan, who suffered the tough-luck loss.
Lebron (3-1, 3.32) turned in his best outing of the year, striking out six batters over six scoreless innings while allowing four hits and walking one. After allowing a pair of hits in the opening frame, he retired 13 of the next 14 batters he faced and cruised through the rest of his outing.
The Whitecaps eventually won the race to the scoreboard in the top of the fifth. With one out, Alexis Espinoza smoked a line-drive single up the middle that snapped a string of 13 consecutive batters retired by Taylor. After a double by Luis Salas advanced Espinoza to third, a wild pitch brought him home for a 1-0 lead.
West Michigan added a pair of key insurance runs in the top of the ninth. They got some help with one out when Jordan Lennerton was hit by a pitch and Avisail Garcia drew a walk. Espinoza followed with a double that bounced inside the third base line to score Lennerton and place runners at second and third. Luis Salas added a sacrifice fly as Garcia crossed the plate for a 3-0 advantage.
Reliever Cory Hamilton (1) made the lead stand up with three strong innings of scoreless relief. He worked around singles in each frame, stranding the potential game-tying run at third base in the eighth and inducing a game-ending double-play ball in the ninth to earn the save.
Espinoza led the offense with a 2-for-4 effort that included a run and an RBI.
Taylor (1-2) suffered the loss for South Bend despite a solid outing. The southpaw out of Central Michigan University allowed one run on three hits over six innings of work.
The Whitecaps continue their seven-game road trip with a three-game set at Great Lakes that begins with a 7:05 p.m. first pitch on Tuesday, May 4. RHP Trevor Feeney (2-2, 3.09) will start for West Michigan against RHP Elisaul Pimentel (1-1, 2.70) of the Loons. The 'Caps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, May 7, for a 6:35 p.m. game at which the first 1,000 fans will receive a Brandon Inge Bobblehead Doll presented by Pepsi. 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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