MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Cruise to Opening Night Win

Published on April 8, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


SOUTH BEND, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps brought in 2016 with eight runs in their first three innings, coasting to a 9-4 win to begin the season at Four Winds Field Thursday night.

The Whitecaps picked up right from where their 2015 Midwest League Championship team left off, as their first three hitters of the season scored to open the ballgame. Second baseman Brett Pirtle kick-started the offense with a first-inning RBI-double and scored on a triple by catcher Shane Zeile. Pirtle kept things rolling in the second with a two-run double to extend West Michigan's lead to 5-0. The big blow came an inning later, when third baseman Steven Fuentes lined a three-run triple into the right-field corner to give the Whitecaps an 8-0 advantage in only the third inning. South Bend drew as close as five runs before an outstanding sliding catch by Whitecaps center fielder Derek Hill ended a seventh-inning rally to seal the victory.

Spenser Watkins started for West Michigan and gave up just two runs in 4.2 innings before Jon Maciel (1-0) earned his first victory in a Whitecaps uniform since August 21, 2014 with 1.1 innings of effective relief work. Cubs starter Preston Morrison (0-1) took his first loss after giving up eight runs in four innings of his Opening Day start.

The Whitecaps record improves to 1-0 in the early season, while the Cubs fall to 0-1 on the year. Pirtle led the Whitecaps by going 2-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI in the contest. Jose Azocar also recorded a pair of hits in his Whitecaps debut. Eloy Jimenez led the way for South Bend at the plate, going 2-for-4 with a triple, RBI, and a run scored.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps continue this home-and-home series against the South Bend Cubs Friday night at 7:35pm. Fernando Perez gets the starting nod for West Michigan against Justin Steele for the Cubs. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:25pm. A reminder that good seats are still available for Saturday's Whitecaps Home Opener against South Bend at 4pm. Tickets can be reserved for that game, as well as any 2015 home contest by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from April 8, 2016


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