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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Drop Fifth in a Row

April 28, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps went down quietly again on Wednesday night, dropping their fifth straight game with a 2-1 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts at Fifth Third Ballpark.

After losing nine of their last 10 games, West Michigan (6-14) is 0-5 during the current homestand and needs a win in the series finale on Thursday to avoid a second consecutive series sweep. Lansing (13-7) scored all of their runs on one swing of the bat Wednesday, continuing a torrid stretch that has seen them win 10 of their last 11.

Early on, Whitecaps starter Ramon Lebron was able to work in and out of trouble. He had to work around runners at second and third with just one out in both the first and second innings, but was able to wiggle out of each jam unscathed.

After Lebron issued a pair of two-out walks in the third, however, West Michigan was forced to go to the bullpen. Reliever Cory Hamilton came in to make his first appearance of 2010 after being added to the roster on Monday, and was greeted by a two-run double off the bat of Sean Ochinko that staked the Lugnuts to a 2-0 lead.

The Whitecaps cut the deficit in half in the bottom of the third. Billy Alvino sent a bouncer to the mound to open the inning, but the first baseman lost the throw in the sun and Alvino wound up at second base. After Jamie Johnson's single pushed Alvino to third base, he scored on a double play to make it a 2-1 ballgame.

That turned out to be the final. The Whitecaps notched just one of their five hits after the fourth inning as the Lugnuts retired 18 of the last 21 West Michigan batters.

Ryan Tepera (2-0) earned the victory after 5.1 innings of work, allowing one unearned run on four hits. Steve Turnbull (5) finished things off with a 1-2-3 ninth.

Lebron (2-1) suffered his first loss for the Whitecaps. Despite throwing 2.2 innings of hitless baseball and striking out two, the hard-throwing righty also walked five, hit a batter and balked once while allowing both runs.

The Whitecaps wrap up their six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with the finale of a three-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts at 6:35 p.m. on Thursday, April 29. RHP Trevor Feeney (1-2, 3.25) will start for West Michigan opposite RHP Ryan Shopshire (2-0, 3.47) of the Lugnuts. Fans can take advantage of $2 hot dogs, beer, soft drinks and soft pretzels on an Altogas Thrifty Thursday, while College Night features $5 admission when a college ID is presented at the box office. 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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