Whitecaps Bust Out The Brooms, Win Sixth Straight
August 10, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
DAYON, OH - The West Michigan Whitecaps completed a four-game series sweep with their sixth straight win on Tuesday night, out-hitting the Dayton Dragons, 17-4, during a 9-2 victory at Fifth Third Field.
West Michigan (20-24, 46-67) won their seventh straight road game and remains just one game out of a potential playoff spot with 26 to play, while Dayton (10-33, 40-72) continued to struggle with their 21st consecutive home loss and fell to 3-25 in their last 28 games.
Hungry for the series sweep, the Whitecaps came out swinging on Tuesday night. The top three batters in the order - Jeff Rowland, Michael Rockett and Corey Jones - all had three-hit games and went a combined 9-for-15 with four extra-base hits.
West Michigan seized control from the outset and led wire-to-wire.
Rockett and Corey Jones lined back-to-back singles with one out in the top of the first before Wade Gaynor bounced into a fielder's choice groundout to second, but Rockett was granted home when the throw to first from shortstop Didi Gregorius sailed into the seats. Avisail Garcia followed with a run-scoring single to right that plated Gaynor for a 2-0 lead.
In the second, Rockett lined a double to center that drove home Hernan Perez to push the advantage to 3-0.
The score was 3-1 when the 'Caps blew the game open in the fourth. The first five batters that came to the plate all hit safely, starting with singles by Perez and Rowland that put men at the corners. Perez was promptly given home plate on a balk, while Rockett slapped a line-drive double down the right field line to score Rowland. After a single by Corey Jones advanced Rockett to third, Gaynor became the first Whitecap to reach 60 RBI this season with a run-scoring single to left that gave West Michigan a comfortable 6-1 lead.
Jared Wesson (5-1) battled through five innings to win his third consecutive decision, holding the Dragons to one run on three hits. The tall left-hander struck out five and walked three, stranding seven Dayton baserunners as he consistently worked out of trouble.
Matt Little followed with three solid frames out of the bullpen before Antonio Cruz chipped in with a scoreless ninth to complete the combined four-hitter.
In the fifth, Clay Jones smacked a leadoff double that one-hopped the wall in center, later scoring on a sacrifice fly by Perez for a 7-1 margin.
It was a 7-2 ballgame when the Whitecaps put on the finishing touches in the ninth. Rob Brantly started the rally with a leadoff double, extending his hitting streak to 13 games in his final plate appearance of the night. One out later, Alexis Espinoza drilled a triple to the wall in right-center and Perez added a run-scoring single as the 'Caps cemented the 9-2 victory.
Ricky Bowen (2-7) suffered the loss after getting knocked around for seven runs - six earned - on 13 hits over 4.2 innings of work.
The Whitecaps continue a seven-game road trip with a three-game series in Bowling Green that starts at 7:35 p.m. ET on Wednesday night. RHP Victor Larez (6-9, 4.65) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against LHP Aaron Dott (2-3, 4.83) of the Hot Rods in the series opener. The Whitecaps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday, August 14, for a seven-day homestand that starts with a 7:00 p.m. game against the South Bend Silver Hawks. The first 1,000 kids ages 14-and-under will receive capes on Superhero Night presented by Charter Communications, and the evening will culminate with a tremendous fireworks display thanks to Farm Bureau Insurance. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.
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