June 25, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
West Michigan Whitecaps News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps began play with a clean slate on Friday night, but stranded 10 runners in a 2-1 loss to the Lake County Captains in the first game of the second half at Fifth Third Ballpark.
West Michigan (0-1, 26-44) got solid pitching and collected 10 hits to the Captains' seven, but went just 1-for-11 with runners in scoring position as Lake County (1-0, 45-25) improved on the best record in the Midwest League.
The Whitecaps got six strong innings from Giovanni Soto (5-5), who allowed one earned run (two total) on four hits over six innings and struck out six without issuing a walk. Zach Samuels followed with two shutout frames out of the bullpen while Kenny Faulk pitched in with a scoreless ninth.
West Michigan could not get the big hit, though, stranding at least one man on base in seven of their nine offensive innings.
Their best chance came in the eighth inning. Trailing 2-1 with men at second and third and nobody out, Tony Plagman and Michael Rockett were each retired on shallow pop outs. After a walk loaded the bases, Hernan Perez bounced out to end the threat.
Lake County took the lead in the top of the fourth thanks to a pair of Whitecaps errors. Shortstop Hernan Perez committed a fielding error on a groundball near second with one out and third baseman Wade Gaynor made an errant throw with two away. Moments later, Jeremie Tice bounced a 1-2 curveball up the middle for an RBI-single and a 1-0 lead.
Lake County added a key insurance run in the sixth, when Delvi Cid smacked a leadoff triple and scored on a single by Casey Frawley for a 2-0 advantage.
The Whitecaps scored their only run in the bottom of the seventh. Newcomer Clay Jones, the Tigers' 32nd-round pick in the 2010 draft, yanked a leadoff double to left as part of a 2-for-3 night in his professional debut. After moving to third on a single by Perez, Jimmy Gulliver delivered a sacrifice fly to cut the deficit to 2-1.
Clayton Cook (3-4) earned the win for the Captains, striking out six without issuing a walk and allowing five hits in five scoreless innings.
The Whitecaps continue the first series of the second half at Fifth Third Ballpark with a 7:00 p.m. first pitch on Saturday, June 26. RHP Trevor Feeney (6-6, 3.59) is scheduled to start for West Michigan against LHP Matt Packer (5-3, 2.19) of the Lake County Captains. The first 1,000 fans will receive seat cushions thanks to Assurant Health and everybody will enjoy post-game fireworks presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting whitecapsbaseball.com.
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Midwest League Stories from June 25, 2010
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- - Lake County Captains
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