Whitecaps Strand 11 In Series-Opening Loss
Published on July 10, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps got a 3-for-5 night from Danry Vasquez but stranded 11 runners on base in a 6-1 loss to the Clinton LumberKings on Wednesday evening at Fifth Third Ballpark.
West Michigan (8-11, 41-48) dropped to 5-8 against the Western Division as they begin the second and final round of Midwest League interdivisional play. Clinton (10-9, 43-45) dinked and dunked the Whitecaps to death with 10 hits, eight of which were singles.
The LumberKings jumped on Whitecaps' starter Charlie Gillies (1-5) early, scoring three runs on six hits through the first two innings and never looking back.
After a pair of groundball singles in the top of the first, Taylor Ard split the gap in right-center with a two-run double. In the second, Gaby Guerrero led off with a chopper towards third that bounced over Jason King's head for another double. Two batters later, he scored on a single by Tim Lopes that bounced through the left side of the infield to give Clinton a 3-0 lead.
Those two doubles were the only extra-base hits in a game that featured a combined 15 singles.
West Michigan scored their lone run in the bottom of the second inning. Zach Kirksey worked a two-out walk and advanced to third on a hit-and-run single by Bennett Pickar. Harold Castro followed with a liner to right that dropped in front of Guerrero, scoring Kirksey to pull the 'Caps within 3-1.
But Gillies ran into more trouble in the fifth when Ketel Marte reached on a bunt-single and Gillies issued consecutive walks to load the bases. After his removal from the ballgame, reliever Chad Smith surrendered a sacrifice fly to Marcus Littlewood and an RBI-single to Jordy Lara as the LumberKings' stretched the lead to 5-1.
Marte added his third hit of the night in the ninth, scoring Janelfry Zorilla to reach the 6-1 final.
Gillies took the loss, giving up five runs on eight hits and three walks over 4.1 innings.
The bullpen pitched well following his departure. Smith and fellow relievers Jon Maciel, Josh Turley and Corey Knebel allowed just three baserunners over the final 4.2 frames and retired 10 consecutive batters at one point.
Clinton's Charles Kaalekahi (3-1) earned the victory. The Hawaiian right-hander limited the Whitecaps to one run on four hits over five solid innings of work.
The Whitecaps continue a six-game homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Thursday night against the Clinton LumberKings. RHP Montreal Robertson (2-3, 4.81) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Victor Sanchez (1-3, 3.08) of the LumberKings. Promotions include food and beverage specials on an Altogas Thrifty Thursday in addition to a pre-game baseball giveaway and a salute to hair bands featuring a post-game concert by GlamHammer on the Miller Lite House Deck. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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