Worth the Wait
July 11, 2005 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
CLINTON, IA - Following a 16 inning loss to Clinton on Saturday, the Whitecaps went 17 innings to defeat the Lumberkings Monday, 7-6. With the win, West Michigan avoids a four game sweep, wins the season series against Clinton, 5-3 and goes 3-5 on the road trip.
The game is also the longest in team history at four hours and 50 minutes, breaking the previous mark of four hours and 36 minutes set on June 30, 2002 in a 6-5, 15 inning win over Lansing.
Seventeen innings matches the team record, originally set on June 27, 1996 at Beloit in a 5-4 West Michigan victory.
Of the five games in team history that have lasted 16 innings or more, two were in the last three games of the series at Alliant Energy Field.
The Whitecaps are now 10-4 in extra inning games this season. West Michigan had five leads in the game. The last came on the game winning hit by Justin Justice, which was a single to right that drove in Brooks Colvin with one out in the top of the seventeenth.
Clinton led 1-0 on an RBI walk by Ben Harrison. Whitecaps starting pitcher Andrew Kown issued five walks in five innings, but left with a 3-2 lead.
Johnny Washington blasted a home run to right field to tie the game, 3-3 off reliever Matt Righter in the sixth.
Third round draft choice Chris Robinson was 0-for-23 as a Whitecap before a double in the sixth inning. Robinson gave West Michigan a 5-3 lead with a 2-run homer to right field in the eighth.
In the bottom of the ninth, Clinton rallied for two runs, which were both charged to Righter. Closer Anthony Tomey came on to relieve Righter with two out, but blew his second straight save opportunity as the tying run scored on a wild pitch. Tomey also failed to hold a lead Saturday, leading to the 16-inning game.
Robinson gave West Michigan another lead in the tenth on a single to right that plated Luis Sabino for a 6-5 score.
Brandon Cashman singled home the tying run in the bottom of the inning.
No one scored again until the Justice hit in the seventeenth.
Kevin Ardoin earned the win with three shutout innings of work, which included six strikeouts. Lavon Lewis picked up the save by setting down the side in order in the bottom of the seventeenth.
West Michigan used seven pitchers and issued 11 walks. Three Clinton pitchers combined to issue one walk. It came with the bases loaded to Steve Young in the fourth and put West Michigan in front, 3-2.
Robinson and Colvin each went 4-for-8 in the game.
Record Holders: Justin Justice (3-for-9), Nick McIntyre (2-for-9), Brent Dlugach (3-for-9) and Josh Lee (3-for-9) are the first Whitecaps ever to register nine at bats in a game.
Almost a Record: West Michigan rolled up 24 hits, which is one shy of the franchise record of 25 set on May 30, 2000 against Dayton.
All Star Break: The entire Midwest League has Tuesday off for the Major League All Star Game. West Michigan opens a three game series against Dayton on Wednesday at Fifth Third Ballpark. It will be the only time during a 19-game stretch that the Whitecaps are playing at home.
Midwest League Stories from July 11, 2005
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- Philippe Valiquette impressive in five innings for first professional win - Dayton Dragons
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- Worth the Wait - West Michigan Whitecaps
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