Wizards win to avoid sweep
July 4, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK - Fort Wayne led 5-0 after three innings and 7-2 in the fifth, but had to hold on for an 8-7 victory over the Whitecaps to avoid a four game sweep. It was only the second win in 18 games for the Wizards at Fifth Third Ballpark over the past two seasons. West Michigan starting pitcher Paul Nardozzi gave up five runs in the first three innings to take the loss as the Whitecaps were never able to even the score. Robert Perry drove in three of those first five runs for the Wizards. Manny Miguelez worked the next three innings and gave up three additional runs.
Luis Durango finished 4-for-6 at the plate for Fort Wayne with two steals and two runs scored while Justin Henry went 4-for-5 with a run scored for the Whitecaps. The two teams traded two run rallies as the âCaps scored in the bottom of the fourth on back-to-back RBI doubles by Alex Avila and Ronnie Bourquin. Fort Wayne answered with a pair of runs in the top of the sixth to claim a 7-2 advantage.
In the bottom of the fifth, the Whitecaps trimmed the lead to 7-6 when the first four batters of the inning all singled and scored. Avila drove in a pair of runs on one-out single and finished with three hits and three RBI. Bourquin went 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles. Wizards starter Jeremy McBryde yielded six runs on 11 hits over five innings but earned the victory. Brandon Gomes threw two innings and was followed by scoreless innings from Omar Gutierrez and Bryan Oland who sealed the victory. Oland earned his first save. Andrew Hess, Brett Jacobson and Scott Green each pitched scoreless innings of relief for the Whitecaps. Fort Wayne gave up its designated hitter in the bottom of the ninth when DH Brad Chalk moved to center field and Oland replaced Durango in the lead off spot. Felix Carrasco hit his 13th homer of the year for Fort Wayne on a solo shot in the third.
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