Whitecaps survive several South Bend rallies
May 20, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK - Dusty Ryan hit his first home run of the season in the first inning on Saturday and it proved to be vital to the Whitecaps. The three-run blast gave West Michigan a head start in a 4-3 victory over South Bend.
Matt Joyce increased his team-leading total of RBI to 32 with a bases loaded walk in the second inning that stretched the lead to 4-0.
Erik Averill made the lead stand up, but allowed three South Bend runs in the fourth inning. Trey Hendricks, Steve Mena and Manuel Ferrer each had RBI for the Silver Hawks.
Averill pitched the first six innings of the game and earned the win to end a two-start losing streak.
Matt Rusch, Ricky Steik and Anthony Claggett each turned in scoreless innings of relief for the Whitecaps. Claggett earned his third save of the season.
Ryan Schreppel allowed all four Whitecaps runs. He pitched just 3.1 innings for South Bend but issued six walks and took the loss to fall to 5-1.
Several solid defensive plays were turned in by the Whitecaps that preserved the lead over the final five innings of the game and a 1 hour and 8 minute rain delay at the end of the seventh.
Pedro Cotto went 1-for-2 with a pair of walks to run his hitting streak to 11 games for West Michigan. Whitecaps right fielder Matt Joyce has hit safely in nine straight games thanks to a single in the seventh.
Midwest League Stories from May 20, 2006
- Howell's heroics can't lift Kernels past Cougars - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Veal Sensational in Chiefs 2-1 Victory - Peoria Chiefs
- Mazzaro, Cougars Mow Past Kernels - Kane County Cougars
- Whitecaps survive several South Bend rallies - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Anderson fuels the comeback bid with first homer of the season and 3-for-4 night - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Devil Rays Thwart Dragons Rally to Win 5-3 - Dayton Dragons
- Rattlers implode in ninth; Bees win seventh straight - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Lugnuts Put Spell On Wizards - Lansing Lugnuts
- Devil Rays Take Down Dragons - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Thibault to DL; Everett Joins Bees - Burlington Bees
- Three Players Join 'Caps - West Michigan Whitecaps
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.
