MWL1 West Michigan Whitecaps

Ziomeck Deals as 'Caps Finish Homestand Strong

Published on April 27, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Kevin Ziomek dealt eight shutout innings and the West Michigan Whitecaps persevered through another dramatic ninth inning, capturing a 2-1 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the rubber match of a three-game series at Fifth Third Ballpark.

After starting the homestand with losses in four of the first five games, West Michigan (12-11) finished strong with consecutive wins over Fort Wayne (9-13) to move back over the .500 mark.

Ziomek (1-2) stole the show on Sunday, earning his first professional win with a dominant performance.

Using impeccable command and a sharp breaking ball, the left-hander allowed just three singles over eight scoreless innings and struck out six without issuing a walk. Ziomek retired 14 consecutive batters at one point and allowed just two TinCaps to reach scoring position. The Detroit Tigers' second-round pick in the 2013 draft, Ziomek threw 12 pitches or less in six of his eight innings and threw 62 of his 91 pitches for strikes.

The Whitecaps' offense scored both of their runs in a sloppy bottom of the second inning that included a pair of Fort Wayne's league-high 43 errors.

Dominic Ficociello reached base on a leadoff single. He proceeded to steal second and took third when the throw from catcher Ryan Miller sailed into center field. Moments later, a wild pitch allowed him to score the game's first run. Ben Verlander, who was standing in the batter's box for the whole sequence, followed with a single and advanced to second on a bunt. After a fielding error allowed him to reach third, Verlander scored on a groundout by Bennett Pickar for a 2-0 lead.

That score remained until the ninth inning, when the TinCaps made things interesting against Whitecaps' reliever Montreal Robertson.

The hard-throwing right-hander picked up a pair of strikeouts and issued a walk before Fernando Perez drilled a run-scoring double to right field. After a wild pitch, Fort Wayne suddenly had the potential game-tying run just 90 feet away.

The TinCaps called on Dane Phillips - ranked fifth in the league with a .345 batting average - to pinch-hit with the game on the line. But Robertson buckled down, going to a full count before inducing a harmless bounce-out to the second baseman to clinch his third save of the season.

Adrian De Horta (0-1) took the loss despite a solid performance for Fort Wayne. De Horta was charged with two runs - one earned - on four hits over five innings of work.

The Whitecaps hit the road on Monday to start a seven-game road trip with a 6:30 p.m. first pitch against the Lake County Captains at Classic Park. RHP Chad Green (0-0, 3.75) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Adam Plutko (0-0, 4.15) of Lake County. The 'Caps will be back at Fifth Third Ballpark on Monday, May 5, offering fans that present a church or community bulletin half-price reserved seats thanks to JQ99 FM. Season, 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 April 27, 2014


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