MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps, Silver Hawks Split Doubleheader

Published on May 10, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps picked up their second shutout victory in a three-day span on Tuesday, winning the second game of a doubleheader with the South Bend Silver Hawks, 5-0, after dropping the opener, 6-1, at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (14-18) and South Bend (14-18) both entered play on winning streaks with identical records. The Whitecaps have now won six of their last seven games, while the Silver Hawks have won five of their last six.

After South Bend led the opener wire-to-wire, West Michigan returned the favor in the nightcap.

Hernan Perez started the scoring with a solo home run in the first inning, and the lead stood up thanks to starting pitcher Jeff Ferrell.

The 20-year-old right-hander, pitching for the first time in more than two weeks after being activated from the Disabled List earlier in the day, threw five shutout innings and allowed just three hits. Ferrell (2-1) struck out five and issued one walk to earn the victory.

With a 1-0 lead, Ferrell faced his toughest jam in the top of the fifth when a double, a walk and a wild pitch left runners at second and third with nobody out. Ferrell responded with three consecutive strikeouts to strand two runners in scoring position and preserve the one-run lead.

Moments later, the Whitecaps blew the game open with a four-run rally in the bottom of the fifth. Nick Castellanos lined a triple to right to start the inning, scoring two pitches later on a double by Ryan Hamme. Luis Sanz and P.J. Polk followed with back-to-back singles, as Polk drove in Hamme for a 3-0 lead. An error and a sacrifice fly helped the 'Caps tack on two more runs to extend the advantage to a suddenly comfortable 5-0.

The loss went to Dan Taylor (2-2), who pitched well for South Bend during a spot start in front of a large group of friends and family from his hometown of nearby Jenison, Michigan. Taylor allowed just the Perez home run through his first four innings before giving up four straight hits to open the fifth, ultimately charged with five runs - four earned - on seven hits in four innings of work.

The Game Two victory brought the Whitecaps a doubleheader split after the Silver Hawks led throughout the entirety of the first game.

Ender Inciarte started the contest with a leadoff double in the top of the first and later scored from third on a groundball double play. South Bend did not get another hit until the fourth, when Bobby Stone lifted a towering solo homer to right for a 2-0 lead.

Castellanos tripled and scored in the bottom of the fourth to bring the Whitecaps to within a run, but South Bend put the game out of reach shortly thereafter. The crippling blow was a two-out, three-run homer by Yazy Arbelo in the fifth, while the Silver Hawks added a final run in the seventh to cement the 6-1 victory.

J.R. Bradley (1-5) earned the win for South Bend, scattering eight hits over six innings and allowing just one run. Antonio Cruz (0-4) suffered the loss for West Michigan after serving up a pair of home runs and being charged with five runs on seven hits over five innings of work.

The Whitecaps continue their homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with the third game of a four-game series against the South Bend Silver Hawks at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday morning. RHP Josue Carreno (1-3, 6.17) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan while LHP David Holmberg (1-3, 5.06) will take the hill for South Bend on a DTE Energy Savings Day and a Wellness Wednesday presented by Priority Health. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

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Midwest League Stories from May 10, 2011


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