MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Stunned In Wild Walk-Off Loss

June 2, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - Just two outs away from victory, the West Michigan Whitecaps suffered a stunning loss on Monday night after a walk-off three-base throwing error led to a 4-3 defeat to the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Parkview Field.

The loss marked the second time that West Michigan (32-26) failed to hold a ninth-inning lead while losing two of three games in Fort Wayne (26-31), trimming the Whitecaps' lead over Dayton in the first-half wild card race to a two-game advantage with 12 games remaining before the All-Star break.

The 'Caps had just pulled off a comeback of their own to bring a 3-2 lead into the bottom of the ninth.

The stunning turn of events started when River Stevens lined a one-out triple over the head of center fielder Austin Schotts, stumbling into third base ahead of a wide relay throw. The TinCaps summoned Fernando Perez off the bench to pinch-hit, and the slugger obliged by clubbing a 1-2 pitch deep to right-center field for a game-tying sacrifice fly.

With two outs and the bases empty, nobody could have guessed the way the next two pitches would unfold. First, Josh VanMeter lined a single to left to put the game-winning run on base. Next, reliever Julio Felix threw a first-pitch strike to Ronnie Richardson.

Catcher Bennett Pickar tried to catch VanMeter off-guard, whistling an unexpected throw to first base. But Jeff Holm was not looking and the throw traveled all the way down the right field line. As VanMeter raced around the bases, Wynton Bernard chased down the ball in the corner and threw it towards the infield. The relay throw from Javier Betancourt reached the plate as VanMeter scrambled home, sliding around Pickar's tag for the game-winning run.

The unearned run capped a shocking turnaround and gave Fort Wayne a 4-3 victory, making a winner out of Tayron Guerrero (5-0) thanks to his 1.1 innings of scoreless relief. Felix (2-2) suffered the loss and a blown save, allowing two runs - one earned - in two-thirds of an inning.

Prior to the late chaos, it was the Whitecaps who were poised for a come-from-behind victory.

Raph Rhymes started the scoring with a solo homer in the top of the first, blasting his second longball in as many days. But the TinCaps countered with a run-scoring single by Dustin Peterson in the bottom of the first and a solo shot from Jakes Bauers in the fourth for a 2-1 advantage.

West Michigan rallied in the later innings. Bernard extended his team-high 10-game hitting streak with a leadoff single in the seventh, later scoring the game-tying run on an infield single by Pickar. Schotts led off the eighth with an infield single as well, eventually scoring all the way from second on a two-out infield hit by Holm.

Suddenly ahead 3-2, the 'Caps held the slim lead until the bottom of the ninth.

The Whitecaps return to Fifth Third Ballpark on Wednesday for their final homestand of the first half, a six-game stretch that begins with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch against the Great Lakes Loons. RHP Chad Green (0-2, 3.64) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Brandon Martinez (1-0, 2.86) of Great Lakes. There will be an appearance by Roary from the Detroit Lions and post-game Family Fare fireworks. Season, 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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Midwest League Stories from June 2, 2014


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