MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Whitecaps Walk 10 As Lugnuts Storm Back

Published on August 4, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


LANSING, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps came out swinging on Saturday night at Cooley Law School Stadium, but 14 hits and three home runs were not enough to overcome 10 walks in a tough 8-7 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts on a wet and sloppy evening in the state capital.

West Michigan (19-22, 55-56) led by a 7-3 score after five innings of play, but eight of their 10 walks were issued over the final two frames to help Lansing (25-16, 72-38) plate five unanswered runs for the wild finish.

The stunning loss was the Whitecaps' eighth in their last 10 games.

Things started off well enough for West Michigan, who took an early led when Chad Wright drilled the second pitch of the game over the right field fence for a leadoff homer. In the second, the 'Caps added three doubles and crossed the plate twice more for a 3-0 lead.

The advantage was 4-3 when Eugenio Suarez drew a leadoff walk in the fifth inning. Aaron Westlake and Jeff McVaney followed with back-to-back home runs to nearly identical spots, launching the ball to the batter's eye in center field for what appeared to be a comfortable 7-3 lead.

But as the rain began to fall in the sixth, the Lugnuts' were able to mount a comeback with the help of a sloppy night and an erratic pitching performance.

Andy Fermin tripled and scored in the sixth to pull Lansing within 7-4.

The rain was getting heavier and more disruptive as the Lugnuts plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the seventh without the benefit of a hit. West Michigan relievers Michael Torrealba and Dan Bennett combined to walk five batters and issue a pair of wild pitches, with a strikeout ultimately stranding the bases loaded to momentarily preserve a 7-6 edge.

In the bottom of the eighth, a single and a walk put Lansing's first two runners aboard while a sacrifice bunt advanced them to second and third. K.C. Hobson followed with a bouncer to third base that scored the game-tying run, but as Jason King fired across the diamond for the second out, the back runner - Michael Crouse - broke for third base. Westlake took the throw at first and whipped the baseball back across the diamond, but it sailed past King as Crouse came home with the go-ahead run.

Lansing took an 8-7 lead, putting the home team in front for the first time all night.

Phil Brua (3-0) earned the win with a scoreless top of the eighth, while Slade Smith (1-1) allowed two runs in the bottom of the inning to take the loss. Ajay Meyer (30) worked the ninth to earn his Minor League-leading 30th save.

The Whitecaps are in the midst of a seven-game road trip that continues at 2:05 p.m. on Sunday afternoon with the second game of a four-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts. LHP Kyle Ryan (5-6, 4.08) is scheduled to take the hill for West Michigan against RHP Noah Syndergaard (7-3, 3.06) of Lansing. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will take place at 7:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 11, featuring a superhero cape giveaway on Superhero Night, an appearance by the incomparable Team Ghost Riders, and post-game fireworks. 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 August 4, 2012


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