Whitecaps top Devil Rays late
May 28, 2006 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
BATTLE CREEK, MI - Southwest Michigan held three separate leads, but the Whitecaps poured in 7 runs over two innings late in a 12-6 win over the Devil Rays. West Michigan achieved season highs with 12 runs on 18 hits.
Mike Hernandez went 4-for-5 for the Whitecaps with an RBI, two runs and a hit by pitch. He was among four players who scored more than one Whitecaps run: Dusty Ryan and Cory Middleton each crossed the plate twice and Justin Justice came home three times in a 2-for-4 performance.
Five different Whitecaps collected two RBI: Justice, Ryan, Middleton, Mike Hollimon and Rafael Mendez.
Mendez provided the final go-ahead hit in the seventh.
Following a 1-0 West Michigan lead in the first inning, the Devil Rays rallied for three in the bottom of the first. Southwest Michigan also led 5-3 and 6-5 after the Whitecaps rallied to tie the game twice.
The final Southwest Michigan run came on a bunt by Neil Walton in the bottom of the sixth.
In the top of the seventh, the Whitecaps came back with three runs. Middleton hit the first of his two RBI doubles to tie the game. The hit was followed by an RBI single by Mendez that broke a 6-6 tie and a run scoring single from Pedro Cotto that padded the lead.
West Michigan poured on four additional runs in the top of the eighth for the final margin of victory.
The bullpen was solid for the Whitecaps as Matt Rusch allowed just one run in three innings of relief to earn the win. Ricky Steik tossed a pair of shutout innings in the eighth and ninth to close-out the win.
Chris Kelly suffered his second loss against West Michigan in the last three days. The Devil Rays right-hander went 1.1 innings and allowed six runs (3 ER) on six hits and a walk.
The Whitecaps have won three consecutive road games for the first time this season and remain a half game behind Lansing the Midwest League Eastern Division. The Lugnuts completed a four game sweep of Lansing with a 2-0 win on Sunday.
Rare Occurrence: Sunday marked only the second time this season that the Whitecaps have scored ten runs or more. West Michigan tallied ten runs on May 2 at Wisconsin.
A Home Stand of Firsts: The only two teams that the Whitecaps have not played this season will visit Fifth Third Ballpark during an eight game home stand that begins Monday. A four game series against Dayton will be followed by four games versus Quad Cities. Below are the expected pitching match ups for the series against the Dragons:
(Dayton vs. West Michigan)
Monday, 2:00 p.m.
RHP Zach Ward (3-0, 3.24) vs. LHP Ramon Garcia (6-1, 1.05)
Tuesday, 6:35 p.m.
RHP Johnny Cueto (5-1, 2.49) vs. RHP Sendy Vasquez (2-3, 2.93)
Wednesday, 11:00 a.m.
LHP Philippe Valiquette (1-4, 6.12) vs. LHP Erik Averill (2-3, 4.38)
Thursday, 11:00 a.m.
LHP Travis Wood (4-0, 3.35) vs. RHP Burke Badenhop (5-1, 3.40)
The Whitecaps Pre Game Show begins at 1:50 p.m. Monday on 1340 AM WBBL and at wbbl.com
Midwest League Stories from May 28, 2006
- Cougars crush Rattlers 19-5 - Kane County Cougars
- Cougars maul Rattlers - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Swing drop series finale, 4-3 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bees settle for split with Snappers - Burlington Bees
- Hot day, hotter hitting - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Whitecaps top Devil Rays late - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Blackford, Chiefs stifle LumberKings - Clinton LumberKings
- Ovalle powers Snappers to second straight win - Beloit Sky Carp
- Lugnuts Complete Sweep - Lansing Lugnuts
- Silver Hawks Use Ciriaco's Bat, Glove to Win Series - Dayton Dragons
- Cardona Added to Active Roster - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Losing ways return in 4-0 defeat by Swing - Cedar Rapids Kernels
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