MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Hang On For Homestand Opening Win

June 27, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Willy Adames was 2-for-3 with the only RBI of the night and three West Michigan Whitecaps' pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as the 'Caps opened a seven-game homestand with a 1-0 victory over the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (4-4, 45-33) continued their hot play at home, winning for the 12th time in their last 14 games at Fifth Third Ballpark and improving their home record to 27-13. The Whitecaps' fourth shutout win of the year also marked the third time this season that the 'Caps managed to win a game despite scoring just one run

It was the pitching and defense that took center stage on Friday, stifling the Bowling Green (3-5, 44-34) offensive attack.

Jonathon Crawford (4-2) got the start and earned the win with five shutout innings. He used a double play groundout to get out of a first-inning jam and stranded two runners on base in the second before the Whitecaps cracked the scoreboard.

Though West Michigan managed just six hits on the night, three of them came in succession with one out in the bottom of the second inning. After singles by Wynton Bernard and Grayson Greiner, Adames sliced a base hit to right field that scored Bernard for a 1-0 edge.

The tenuous lead survived a number of scares.

With a runner at second and one out in the third, Bowling Green's Johnny Field lined a clean single to left. Raph Rhymes fielded the ball on one hop and fired home, where Greiner handled a short-hop with the runner bearing down on him and applied the tag for the out at the plate. Two pitches later, Greiner picked off Field at second to end the inning.

The Hot Rods threatened again in the fourth, but second baseman Javier Betancourt ranged well into the outfield to make two impressive catches. The inning ended with runners stranded at second and third.

After Crawford finished his outing, relievers Montreal Robertson and Julio Felix (5) each contributed two scoreless innings to close out the minimum-score victory.

Robertson, who has not allowed a run since June 5, extended his scoreless-innings streak to 10 with another strong outing. Felix finished things off, giving up a leadoff single in the ninth but promptly erasing it with a pickoff.

Bruedlin Suero (0-1) suffered the tough-luck loss for the Hot Rods despite dealing seven strong innings. Making his first start of the season in the Midwest League, the left-hander allowed just one run on five hits and struck out two without issuing a walk.

The Whitecaps continue their seven-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark on Saturday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. RHP Buck Farmer (6-5, 3.33) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against LHP Ben Griset (0-3, 4.19) of Bowling Green on Star Wars night featuring a post-game Family Fare Fireworks show. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 27, 2014


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