Whitecaps Survive Bees, 6-5
May 4, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BURLINGTON, IA - The West Michigan Whitecaps never lost their lead but were tested throughout a 6-5 victory over the Burlington Bees Saturday night at Community Field.
The victory guarantees the "Caps an even record on their six-game road trip and gives them a chance to reach the .500 mark on the season with a win Sunday afternoon.
The Whitecaps jumped out to an early lead when Johnny Valente tallied a run-scoring single before an RBI-groundout from Jordan Pearce to give West Michigan a 2-0 lead. In the third, Nick Ames scored on a throwing error by Burlington catcher Harrison Wenson to extend the "Caps edge to 3-0. In the first three innings of the contest, the Whitecaps drew seven walks but stranded six runners on base in the process. In the fourth, the Bees struck for a pair of solo home runs as Noni Williams and Gleyvin Pineda each hit their second homer of 2019 to narrow the Whitecaps lead to 3-2. Valente added another run with a single in the sixth as part of a two-run frame to help West Michigan reestablish its three-run lead.
In the bottom of the frame, the Bees scored two more to trim the "Caps advantage to 5-4. Ames gave West Michigan valuable insurance with an RBI-single in the top of the eighth before Spencer Griffin tallied a run-scoring single of his own to bring the score to 6-5. Griffin attempted to move up to second base on the play but was thrown out at in what turned into a costly baserunning mistake. In the ninth, Angel Reyes walked two batters to put the potential winning run on base before striking out Kevin Maitan to end the game and give the "Caps their first win of the series.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Wilkel Hernandez (3-2) tied a career-high with seven strikeouts and allowed four runs on seven hits but was good enough to pick up his third win of the season. Burlington starter Cole Duensing (2-2) walked seven batters and allowed three runs in three innings in taking his second loss of the year. Reyes pitched the last 1.1 innings of scoreless baseball and struck out three to finish the game and record his third save of the year. The Bees record falls to 17-12, while the "Caps improve to 13-14. The Whitecaps offense struggled mightily with runners on base on Saturday night despite the win, going 3-for-18 with runners at second and third base in the ballgame. Valente led the charge with his first three-hit performance of the season while driving in two runs, while Reece Hampton reached base three times and scored three runs in the victory.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps finish their six-game road trip with a Sunday matinee at Community Field against the Burlington Bees at 3:00 pm. Righty Carlos Guzman starts for the "Caps against Bees lefty Hector Yan. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 2:50 pm. Tickets are available for any Whitecaps 2019 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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