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MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps, Rivera Pop Kernels

May 4, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


CEDAR RAPIDS, IA - The West Michigan Whitecaps rallied from a one-run deficit in the eighth inning and received a solo home run from Reynaldo Rivera in the ninth to beat the Cedar Rapids Kernels 4-1 in front of 4,356 fans Friday night at Perfect Game Field.

The victory keeps the Whitecaps in a second-place tie with the Bowling Green Hot Rods after their 5-3 defeat of Burlington with records of 16-11.

Cedar Rapids took a 1-0 lead on a run-scoring double by Alex Kirilloff and loaded the bases with one out before getting Kernels second baseman Jose Miranda to bounce into an inning-ending double play. From that moment on, Whitecaps starting pitcher Jesus Rodriguez settled into a groove, going onto retire 14 consecutive hitters, and 15 of the last 16 batters he faced. The Whitecaps offense finally broke through in the eighth when Garrett McCain laced a game-tying RBI-double, and Luke Burch executed a perfect suicide squeeze bunt to give West Michigan a 2-1 advantage. Joey Morgan's RBI-single extended the lead to 3-1 before Rivera led off the ninth with a monster home run to right field to conclude the scoring. Rivera's blast was his third home run in nine games with the "Caps and traveled an estimated 412 feet down the right-field line.

Rodriguez (2-1) was sensational after the rocky first inning, only allowing one baserunner after Royce Lewis singled to start the third. The 20-year old earns his second victory thanks to seven innings of one-run baseball while striking out three, while Kernels reliever Ricky Ramirez (0-1) takes the loss for giving up two runs in two innings on the hill. Twins No. 7 prospect Brusdar Graterol pitched five innings of scoreless baseball while striking out four in receiving a no-decision. Wladimir Pinto struck out four batters in two scoreless frames to earn his fifth save of 2018. Burch, Rivera, and Zac Shepherd each recorded two hits for the "Caps in the victory.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps continue this series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels Saturday at 7:35 pm. Right-hander Brad Bass starts for the Whitecaps. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:25 p.m. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2018 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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