Whitecaps win, will face Fort Wayne in playoffs
September 5, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
LANSING, MI - An RBI triple by Clete Thomas broke up a 1-1 tie in the top of the eighth inning as the Whitecaps beat Lansing 2-1 to secure the top seed in the Eastern Division second half playoff race. West Michigan will battle Fort Wayne in the first round of the playoffs.
A best of three series begins Wednesday at Fifth Third Ballpark. Josh Rainwater started the game for the Whitecaps and retired the first ten Lugnuts hitters in a row. But in the fifth, Rainwater walked the first two batters, Ryan Klosterman and Josh Lex. The next hitter, David Corrente laid down a bunt that third baseman Nick McIntyre overran on a bare-handed attempt.
Klosterman raced home from second on the play to break a scoreless tie. Following Rainwater's five innings on the mound, four Whitecaps relievers combined to keep Lansing from scoring another run: Ed Clelland went a third of an inning, Anthony Tomey two-thirds of an inning, P. J. Finigan two innings and Kevin Whelan retired the side in order in the ninth to earn his 11th save in 11 opportunities. West Michigan tied the game on a line-drive single up the middle by Jeff Frazier in the top of the sixth. Clete Thomas walked, stolen second, then scored. Chris Robinson led off the eighth and was hit by a pitch. He came home with the winning run on the Thomas triple.
Lugnuts starter Russ Savickas went six innings and allowed one run on four hits with six strikeouts. Aaron Tressler struck out five in two innings of relief, but allowed the go-ahead run. He suffered his first loss of the season.
Good Hands: The Whitecaps broke a team record set last year for fewest errors committed in a season. West Michigan defenders were charged with 159 errors, breaking the old mark of 160, despite playing one more game than in 2004.
Every Game Counts: Round One of the Midwest League Playoffs begins Wednesday. Below are the expected pitching match ups for the best-of-three series against Fort Wayne. (Regular season record and ERA in parenthesis.) All Times Eastern Daylight. (West Michigan vs. Ft. Wayne) Wednesday, 7:00 p.m. at West Michigan RHP Jair Jurrjens (12-6, 3.41) vs. RHP Mike Ekstrom (13-6, 3.70) Thursday, 7:00 p.m. at Fort Wayne RHP Dallas Trahern (7-11, 3.58) vs. TBA Friday, 7:00 p.m. at Fort Wayne (if necessary) RHP Jeff Hahn (4-2, 3.25) vs. TBA
Expansion: Every Eikenhout Incorporated Pre Game Show during the post season will feature Whitecaps Manager Matt Walbeck, presented by WalVac. The interviews will be in addition to a daily Rogers Plaza Towne Center Pre Game Conversation, which was featured prior to every regular season contest. On Wednesday, the Eikenhout Incorporated Pre Game Show begins at 6:50 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL and at mlive.com.
Midwest League Stories from September 5, 2005
- Midwest League announces playoff schedule - MWL1
- Snappers Win, Earn Western Division Wildcard - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rays head into playoffs as second half wild-card - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Ellis lands on DL again, Davidson activated - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cougars miss playoffs on final day of season - Kane County Cougars
- Dragons end 2005 on winning note with 5-3 victory - Dayton Dragons
- Snapper beat Rattlers to get into the playoffs - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Whitecaps spoil Lugnuts season finale with 2-1 win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Whitecaps win, will face Fort Wayne in playoffs - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Perez steals way into record books - Southwest Michigan Devil Rays
- Swing lose in playoff tuneup - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Tharpe activated for clutch game in playoff chase - Kane County Cougars
- Snappers lose to Rattlers for the second straight game - Beloit Sky Carp
- LumberKings win again - Clinton LumberKings
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.
