Whitecaps Edge Kernels, Even Series

May 1, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - Trailing 1-0 in the seventh inning, the West Michigan Whitecaps (14-5) scratched together two runs to take the lead and eventually the game, 2-1, over the Cedar Rapids Kernels at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Thursday night's win for the 'Caps ended their two game slide and evened the series at one game apiece. The Whitecaps moved within a half-game of the Eastern division leading Fort Wayne Tincaps.

For the second time in the series great pitching was the dominant storyline. 'Caps spot-starter Brayan Villareal was superb in his 4 innings on the mound. Villareal did not allow a run while surrendering just 1 hit, walking 1, and getting 3 Kernels to strikeout. But he wasn't the only Whitecaps' pitcher to come up big.

Reliever Anthony Shawler (2-1) came into the game in the fifth and worked 3.2 innings of one-run baseball. Shawler gave up 3 hits and struck out two for the win.

Then with two outs in the eighth, West Michigan called on Jared Gayhart (S, 1) to slam the door. Gayhart coaxed a key groundout to end the inning with the tying run on second. Jared then struck out the first two hitters in the ninth before a ground ball ended the game.

West Michigan took advantage of the great pitching with some timely hitting too. The seventh inning was the moment, and DH Billy Nowlin started it off. Nowlin got on with an infield single. Ben Guez sacrificed him to second, and Chao-Ting Tang ripped a triple over Tyson Auer's head in center field to tie the game at 1-1. Luis Palacios put the 'Caps ahead for good with his sacrifice fly to score Tang.

Billy Nowlin (2-4) and Chao-Ting Tang (2-4) were the only 'Caps with multiple hits.

Friday's series finale is the first day game for the Kernels this year. LHP Casey Crosby will start for the 'Caps and Cedar Rapids counters with RHP Christian Scholl in the 'rubber match'. Game time is 1:05 p.m. EST at Veterans Memorial Stadium.

Midwest League Stories from May 1, 2009

• Rattlers Take Series with 6-4 Win - Great Lakes Loons
• Bees Shut Out Opponent for First Time This Season - Burlington Bees
• Bandits fall short of perfect homestand - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cougars Enjoy Pair of Walk-Off Wins - Kane County Cougars
• Dragons Win in twelve innings - Dayton Dragons
• Duran rocks Loons - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Hawks End Skid, Beat Bandits 7-3 - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Marathon game goes to Whitecaps, 6-5 - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Chiefs Win Streak Ends With 1-0 Loss Friday Night - Peoria Chiefs
• Marathon game goes to Whitecaps, 6-5 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Roster Move Correction - Clinton LumberKings
• Mulligan Cardinals Pitcher of the Month - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Highly-Touted Pitching Prospect Joins Dragons - Dayton Dragons
• Mulligan Cardinals Pitcher Of The Month - Quad Cities River Bandits
• LumberKings Call Hensley Up To West Tenn - Clinton LumberKings
• Bolivar Earns First Bandits Promotion Of 2009 - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Peoria Chiefs Roster Move - Peoria Chiefs
• Nominees For April Player Of The Month Announced - Dayton Dragons
• Dragons GameDay - Dayton Dragons
• Chiefs Win Sixth Straight With Another Big Offensive Game - Peoria Chiefs
• Whitecaps Edge Kernels, Even Series - West Michigan Whitecaps

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