Whitecaps split series with Southwest Michigan
August 1, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Kevin Whelan made a big impact in his first Midwest League appearance. The Whitecaps have apparently found a new closer with Whelan, who retired the Devil Rays in order in the ninth to earn a save in a 3-1 West Michigan victory.
Whelan joined the team Monday after a promotion from Oneonta of the New-York-Penn League. Jair Jurrjens started the dominant pitching theme by going six innings as the Whitecaps starter with only one run allowed. It came on a sacrifice fly from Reid Brignac in the sixth. Jurrjens allowed just three hits and none before the fourth inning.
Jeff Frazier and Luis Sabino launched home runs, which accounted for all of the West Michigan scoring. A two-run blast by Frazier put the Whitecaps in front early and Luis Sabino made it a 3-1 game in the sixth with a solo shot.
Frazier leads the team with 58 RBI and has eight home runs. The homer by Sabino was his fourth. Clete Thomas led off the first with a triple for the second time in the series. He scored on Frazier's home run. Freddy Dolsi pitched two innings of scoreless relief for the Whitecaps, who split the series, 2-2 with Southwest Michigan.
James Houser started for the Devil Rays, went 3.2 innings and took the loss. Reliever Lavelle Morgan allowed Sabino's home run, but Ryan Bitter was perfect on the mound over the final two innings for Southwest Michigan.
A Short Night: West Michigan matched its fastest nine-inning game of the season as the game was played in one hour and 58 minutes. The 'Caps also had a 1:58 game at Cedar Rapids on May 21. However, that contest was played amid over three hours in rain delays.
Bodies in the Seats: The four game home series against the Devil Rays was the most highly attended this season by the Whitecaps: 28,932. That number includes a Fifth Third Ballpark record gathering of 12,171 on Saturday. The eight game homestand ranks second for the year. At 48,549 it placed behind the 53,100 drawn for eight games May 31 through June 7.
All Eight at Once: The Whitecaps will face the Beloit Snappers in each of their next eight games. The stretch will represent the entire season series against the Minnesota Twins affiliate. Below are the expected pitching match ups for the entire stretch. All Times Eastern Daylight.
Midwest League Stories from August 1, 2005
- Kernels take series from Dragons with 10-3 romp - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Kolkhorst, Dowdy, Thayer promoted - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Wisconsin bullpen saves the day - Burlington Bees
- Harvey doubles, homers Chiefs to 5-2 win - Peoria Chiefs
- Snappers Win Third Straight - Beloit Sky Carp
- Dragons drop seven of eight on road trip - Dayton Dragons
- Silver Hawks take four game series over Lugnuts - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Whitecaps split series with Southwest Michigan - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Bees add new infielder - Burlington Bees
- Hicklen returns to Bees - Burlington Bees
- Pennington, Cougars Steal Split with Swing - Kane County Cougars
- Key Placed on TI List; Bohorquez Activated - Dayton Dragons
- Cougars strike back, split with Swing - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Mullinax returns, Williams to DL - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Whelan, Hahn to join Whitecaps - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Discounted tickets for Jam 4 Life Concert available now - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Weekend Recap - Clinton LumberKings
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
