Whitecaps go to extra innings to win game two
June 15, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK - Joel Roa came into Thursday's double header batting .098 for the season as a Whitecaps catcher, but came through with two clutch hits, including the game winner in extra innings. West Michigan topped Fort Wayne, 6-5 in eight innings to earn a split. The Wizards took game one, 8-0.
Roa, who has caught all six Whitecaps shutouts this season, did not play in game one. He ripped an RBI single to left with the bases loaded to drive home Pedro Cotto with the winning run in game two.
West Michigan grabbed a 5-0 lead in the first inning thanks in large part to four walks issued by starting pitcher Fabian Jimenez. The left hander was charged with all five runs in the inning and recorded just one out before he was lifted for reliever Nathan Staggs.
Roa had an RBI single to cap the first inning rally. Mike Hernandez put the Whitecaps on the board with a no-out single to left and Cory Middleton drove in two runs on a hit.
Fort Wayne battled back with a run in the third, even though the Wizards did not pick up a hit until the fourth inning off Whitecaps starting pitcher Erik Averill.
In the fourth inning, Fort Wayne scored four times to tie the game, including two runs on a homer by Kyle Blanks. The first baseman has seven home runs this season and three have been in his three games played at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Cotto entered the game in the first inning as a pinch runner for Justin Justice, who left with a leg injury. Justice reached base on a fielder's choice play that drove in a run to make the lead, 2-0.
Anthony Claggett and Ricky each threw two innings of shutout relief for the Whitecaps. Claggett earned the win and has now pitched 12.1 consecutive scoreless innings.
Game One: Josh Geer continued his domination of the Whitecaps with a complete game shutout in an 8-0 Fort Wayne victory. Geer has pitched 20 innings against West Michigan this season with no runs allowed. He is 3-0 against the âCaps who have now lost three games in a row.
Fort Wayne scored six runs in the fourth inning, which is the most runs allowed in a single inning by the Whitecaps this season.
The inning was highlighted by a three-run homer from Mike Baxter off West Michigan reliever Lavon Lewis.
Six of the Wizards' runs were charged to starting pitcher Sendy Vasquez, who lasted 3.1 innings. Lewis went on to retired 10 consecutive batters following the Baxter home run to finish the game.
Nick Hundley hit a two-run homer in the second inning to put Fort Wayne on top, 2-0.
Midwest League Stories from June 15, 2006
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