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Whitecaps Walk to 4-3 Victory on Getaway Day

July 29, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Pinch hitter Michael Perez struck out swinging with the tying run at first in the bottom of the ninth as the West Michigan Whitecaps hung on for a 4-3 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks on Monday afternoon at Coveleski Regional Stadium. The Hawks had a chance to win the game in the ninth despite a sloppy game as they walked six, hit four batters, and allowed two Whitecaps to reach on strikeouts when the pitches got past the Hawks catcher. The Whitecaps left fifteen men on base and struggled with men in scoring position as they went 2-for-14 (.143) in those situations.

The Whitecaps wasted little time as they got off to a quick start. Center fielder Connor Harrell hit a groundball to third and Brandon Drury was unable to make the backhanded play to allow Harrell to reach on the error. Harrell advanced to second on left fielder Jeff Holm's single to right and then scored on first baseman Dean Green's double to right to give West Michigan an early 1-0 lead.

West Michigan, Class-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, added another run in the third as Hawks starter Blake Perry (6-5) had trouble finding the plate. Harrell reached after being hit by Perry's offering. Third baseman Jason King and designated hitter Lance Durham both walked to load the bases. Right fielder Jake Stewart collected the RBI in exciting fashion as Harrell trotted home as the merry-go-round started on his walk. Perry was able to sit catcher Bennett Pickar down on strikes to avoid any further damage in the inning.

South Bend (65-41, 21-16) countered for a run of their own in the bottom of the third off Whitecaps starter Edgar De La Rosa (6-4) who went six innings and struck out three. With two outs, center fielder Breland Almadova doubled off the centerfield wall. Drury followed with a line drive single to right, allowing Almadova to cross home and cut the South Bend deficit to 2-1 before Drury was thrown out advancing to second 9-4-6 to end the inning.

West Michigan (51-54, 18-17) added another run in the fourth. Shortstop David Gonzalez laid a bunt single down the third baseline to start the rally. After Gonzalez stole second, Harrell was hit by Perry for the second time on the afternoon. Left fielder Jeff Holm was the next to have a target on his back as he also was hit by an offering from Perry to load the bases. Hawks reliever, Henry Garcia, then entered the game with one out. Before Garcia could record two outs, Green drew an RBI walk as Gonzalez crossed the plate.

Kyle Winkler relieved Garcia in the top of the sixth inning and struggled at first before turning in a dominating four innings of work. Harrell reached base for the fourth time in the game as he led off by striking out but reached first on a wild pitch. Winkler then walked the next two batters to load the bases and gave up a run on Green's sacrifice fly. He followed up by striking out two of the next three batters, sandwiched around a hit batter. Winkler proceeded to shut down the Whitecaps and gave the Hawks a chance to come back in the last three innings. He struck out nine of the last twelve batters he faced and finished with eleven strikeouts on the game in just four innings while surrendering just one hit and one run.

South Bend, the Class-A affiliate of the Arizona Diamondbacks, cut the lead to 4-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning off of Whitecaps reliever Angel Nesbitt. With one out, shortstop Andrew Velazquez doubled to left field. Designated hitter Fidel Pena followed with a line drive double to center that drove Pena home. Nesbitt stranded Pena at third base after two ground outs kept the West Michigan lead intact at 4-2.

The Hawks threatened to tie the game in the ninth off of West Michigan closer Corey Knebel (S, 9). With one out, catcher Roidany Aguila doubled to the left-center field wall. He advanced to third on a wild pitch and left fielder Alex Glenn drove him home with a single to center that cut the lead to 4-3. Knebel eventually closed out the game by getting a force out and striking out pinch hitter Perez to end the game.

South Bend heads out on the road for a short two-game road trip against the Lansing Lugnuts, the Class-A affiliate of the Toronto Blue Jays. The Hawks return to the Cove as the calendar turns to August to face those same Lugnuts in two home games on August 1st and 2nd. Come on out to the Cove on Thursday for Thirsty Thursday and enjoy $1 beer and soda all night and watch your playoff-bound Silver Hawks take on the Lugnuts.



Midwest League Stories from July 29, 2013


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