MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Swept By River Bandits

Published on June 2, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Thursday night's ballgame followed a familiar pattern for the West Michigan Whitecaps, who suffered a 5-3 loss to wrap up a three-game sweep at the hands of the Quad Cities River Bandits at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (21-33) fell to a season-low 12 games below .500 with the loss, committing four more errors on Thursday night for a total of nine miscues - leading to six unearned runs - during the three-game sweep. Still, for the third straight night the Whitecaps managed to rally late, putting the potential game-tying run on base in the ninth inning before Quad Cities (30-24) held on for the victory.

The Whitecaps fell behind in the top of the first for the third time in as many nights, and once again the runs were unearned. After the first two batters were retired in order, a hit batsman, a walk and a fielding error suddenly loaded the bases with two outs. The next batter, Chris Edmondson, fought off a broken-bat flare that dropped into shallow center for a two-run single.

Edmondson added another run-scoring single in the top of the sixth that made it 3-0, but West Michigan finally broke through in the bottom half of the frame.

Luis Castillo started the rally with a one-out walk and took second base on an infield single by Hernan Perez. Rob Brantly drilled a liner to right-center and put the 'Caps on the scoreboard with an RBI-single. After Brantly advanced to second on a wild pitch, Nick Castellanos rolled a two-run single through the left side of the infield to even the score at 3-3.

Unfortunately, Quad Cities pulled away moments later.

Whitecaps' reliever Dan Gentzler retired the first batter of the top of the seventh, but then gave up five straight singles as the River Bandits recaptured the lead. Greg Garcia and Victor Sanchez contributed the run-scoring hits before Gentzler was removed in favor of Ramon Lebron, who limited the damage by inducing a pair of bouncers to the mound that resulted in force outs at the plate. Though Lebron stranded the bases loaded, West Michigan still fell behind by a 5-3 score.

That margin held despite another ninth-inning rally by the Whitecaps. Ryan Hamme reached base on a two-out error and Steven Moya singled through the right side, extending the ballgame and putting the potential game-tying run on base. The next batter, P.J. Polk, popped out to the shortstop to end the ballgame.

Quad Cities starter Trevor Rosenthal (3-5) earned the win with a quality start, carrying a three-hit shutout into the sixth inning before settling for three runs allowed over six innings of work. Justin Wright (3) earned the save with 1.1 scoreless innings at the back end of the bullpen.

Gentzler (1-3) suffered the loss for West Michigan after being charged with two runs on five hits over 1.1 innings of work.

The Whitecaps continue their homestand at Fifth Third Ballpark on Friday night with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch as interdivisional play continues against the Cedar Rapids Kernels. LHP Antonio Cruz (1-5, 3.25) is scheduled to take the mound for West Michigan against LHP Max Russell (4-4, 3.09) of Cedar Rapids in the opener of a three-game set. Former World Series champion John Grubb will be on hand to sign autographs and greet fans at the first Tiger Friday of the season, while the first 1,000 people through the gates will receive a "Bless You Boys" mini replica base. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.

Check out the West Michigan Whitecaps Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from June 2, 2011


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