2008 West Michigan Whitecaps Season Tracker

those snow flurries will toughen 'em up for the MLB!!!

A first time for everything: Clinton sweeps ‘Caps

April 13th, 2008

CLINTON, IA – Ian Gac hit a home run and drove in three to lead Clinton to a 6-2 win, which completed a three game sweep of the Whitecaps. The LumberKings had never swept a series from West Michigan prior to this weekend. There have been eight sweeps (seven of four games, one of three games) of Clinton in Whitecaps team history.

Gac hit a two run homer with one out in the first inning after Jon Kibler hit lead-off man Engel Beltre with the first pitch in the bottom of the first.

The Whitecaps scored a run on an error in the top of the second to cut the lead to 2-1. Cory Middleton hit a ground ball that led to a low throw to first by third baseman Jonathan Greene. Justin Henry scored on the play.

After Kibler was removed from the game, reliever Wilton Garcia was charged with four runs in the seventh, which broke the game open for the LumberKings. Three of the runs scored with Rudy Darrow on the mound.

Gac delivered an RBI single, Beltre hit a run-scoring double and Tim Smith had an RBI double in the seventh. A fourth run scored on a wild pitch by Darrow.

Kennil Gomez pitched six innings for Clinton and allowed just four hits and no walks to earn the win. Ryan Tatusko and Adalberto Flores combined to finish the game.

Jordan Newton, who caught all three games in the series for West Michigan, collected an RBI single off Flores in the ninth.

The last time the Whitecaps were swept in a three game series was at the end of the regular season last year at Lansing, September 1-3.

New Tigers!

Shutout for the first time since June

April 14th, 2008

PEORIA, IL – Dae-Eun Rhee tossed six shutout innings and Marcos Mateo struck out eight batters over the final three innings as Peoria shutout the Whitecaps, 4-0. It was the first time West Michigan has been shutout since a 10-0 defeat at the hands of Dayton on June 15, 2007 when Kenny Rogers made a rehab start for the ‘Caps. Ironically, Mateo pitched for Dayton in 2007.

Rhee walked three batters in the first two innings but settled down to reduce his ERA to 0.56.

Kyler Burke led the Chiefs offense by going 3-for-3 with a home run and two runs scored.

Whitecaps starting pitcher Ramon Garcia allowed all four runs (3 ER) in 6.1 innings and balked twice in the process. Garcia walked one and allowed eight hits.

Peoria scored an unearned run in the second inning on an infield hit by Cliff Andersen.

Nate Samson delivered an RBI double in the fifth, which made the lead 2-0.

Following Burke’s lead-off homer in the seventh, Samson executed a bunt squeeze that drove in Andersen with the final run of the night.

Mateo’s three innings of relief work figure to boost the Peoria bullpen following a double header Sunday that featured a 17-inning loss to Kane County.

West Michigan has lost four in a row for the first time since the final four games of the 2007 regular season. The ‘Caps have also dropped four straight at O’Brien Field.

Pitchers clamp down to end Whitecaps slide

April 15th, 2008

PEORIA, IL – Alfredo Figaro has recorded the last two Whitecaps victories following a seven inning performance that ended a four game slide and spurred a 5-1 triumph in Peoria.

Figaro allowed just one unearned run along with four hits, four walks and eight strikeouts. He was also the winning pitcher last Wednesday when West Michigan defeated Great Lakes at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Jordan Newton and Joe Tucker each went 3-for-4 with a run scored to spur the Whitecaps offense.

After Peoria took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on two walks and an error, the ‘Caps collected three consecutive two-out hits off Chiefs starter Chris Siegfried.

Newton and Tucker each singled in the second and both came home on the third triple of the season by Audy Ciriaco. The hit by Ciriaco was a line drive over the head of the center fielder, Drew Rundle.

Ciriaco and Chris Carlson each finished 2-for-4 with two RBI.

Roger Tomas led off the fifth inning with his first home run of the season for West Michigan.

Rudy Darrow and Noah Krol pitched the eighth and ninth, respectively for the Whitecaps.

Reliever Hung-Wen Chen tossed three innings of shutout relief for the Chiefs while Blake Parker kept the ‘Caps off the scoreboard in the ninth inning.

Following the game, Paul Nardozzi was announced as the West Michigan starting pitcher for Wednesday. The Whitecaps hope to avoid use a member of the starting rotation in the series finale.

yes!!

Mieses allows second walk-off homer of trip

April 16th, 2008

PEORIA, IL – For the second time on the Whitecaps six game road trip, Santo Mieses allowed a walk-off home run as Peoria downed West Michigan, 2-1 in 11 innings. The ‘Caps went 1-5 on the trip and dropped two-out-of-three in Peoria.

Second baseman Nate Samson drove a pitch over the left field fence with one out in the bottom of the eleventh to deliver the Chiefs first extra inning victory of the season in three opportunities.

It was the first extra inning game of the season for the Whitecaps.

Mieses also allowed a game-ending home run to Cristian Santana in Clinton on Saturday in the first game of a double header, which was also the first game of the trip.

Peoria starting pitcher Alberto Cabrera walked five batters in the first three innings, including three in a row with one out in the second. With the bases loaded, Joe Tucker took advantage of the walks and delivered an RBI sacrifice fly to put West Michigan on top, 1-0.

In the bottom of the third the Chiefs tied the game when Drew Rundle doubled with one out. He then stole third and advanced home on a wild throw by Whitecaps catcher Jordan Newton.

Newton earned some redemption in the eighth inning when he nabbed Rundle trying to swipe second. It was the first time this year in seven attempts that Rundle had been caught stealing.

Tucker finished the game with five productive plate appearances. In addition to the sac fly, he was 2-for-2 with a pair of singles, a walk and he was hit by a pitch. Tucker has now hit safely in 10 consecutive regular season games for the ‘Caps, dating back to August.

With no pitchers from the starting rotation available, four Whitecaps relievers pitched in to cover the entire game: Paul Nardozzi, Kelvin Cedano and Wilton Garcia each made appearances in addition to Mieses.

Granderson thrills large crowd, ‘Caps shutout

April 18th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – An announcement by the Detroit Tigers on Thursday afternoon that Curtis Granderson would rehab with the Whitecaps on Friday led to the sale of more than 7,000 tickets in a 24-hour period. Granderson did not disappoint. He played centerfield throughout a 3-0 West Michigan loss to Burlington and went 2-for-4 with a triple.

Granderson also made a running catch two steps before touching the fence in the left-center field gap during the fifth inning.

The gathering of 10,056 marked the first time the Whitecaps have drown more than 10,000 fans to a game in April since the 2004 home opener on April 16 of that year attracted 10,667.

Alex Caldrea was the starting pitcher for Burlington. He allowed just three hits in seven innings of work, including two against Granderson and one versus Joe Tucker, who extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a two-out single in the seventh inning.

West Michigan has not scored in 18 offensive innings and has plated only one run in the last 24 innings.

Manny Miguelez held the Bees scoreless until David Lough and Clint Robinson started the top of the seventh with back-to-back home runs.

An unearned run scored in the eighth inning when Whitecaps shortstop Audy Ciriaco missed a pop-up in shallow right that allowed Jason Taylor to reach second base. Lough then followed with an RBI double.

Granderson led off the first inning with an infield single. He then tripled with one out in the sixth but was thrown out at home trying to score on a ball hit back to the pitcher by Justin Henry.

West Michigan has lost six of its last seven games and has been shutout twice in the last four games. The ‘Caps are 7-7 and have a .500 record for the first time since the club was 12-12 on May 2, 2007.

I am so mad I was sick

Wild pitch wins extra inning game for Whitecaps

April 19th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – Adrian Casanova went 3-for-5 with an RBI and scored twice for the Whitecaps, including the game winner on a wild pitch in the 12th inning of an 8-7 victory over Burlington. West Michigan rallied from a 6-2 deficit to force extra innings.

Yensi Lopez threw the wild pitch after he allowed a pair of single and a walk, all with two out in the 12th.

Ronnie Bourquin hit his first home run as a Whitecap to give West Michigan a 1-0 lead in the first inning, but the Bees touched Lauren Gagnier for three runs in the top of the second to claim the lead.

Designated hitter Clint Robinson went 2-for-5 for Burlington including a triple, a double and three RBI that helped expand the lead to 6-2 by the sixth inning.

Bees pitchers issued lead off walks in each the eighth, ninth and tenth innings and all three of those runners scored.

Jordan Newton drove in Joe Tucker with a double in the eighth.

The Whitecaps tied the game in the ninth thanks to three straight walks by Juan Abreu to open the frame. Two runners scored on a fielder’s choice play that included an error and Kyle Peter crossed the plate to tie the game on a sacrifice fly to left by Newton.

Each team scored in the tenth to set up the final Whitecaps rally in the 12th.

Roger Tomas also went 3-for-5 with a walk and run scored for the ‘Caps.

West Michigan is 1-1 in extra innings and avoided going below .500 for the first time this year.

Rudy Darrow threw two scoreless innings to earn the win.

Tomas is hero of day in ‘Caps win

April 20th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – For the second day in a row, a three-run ninth inning rally forced extra innings between the Whitecaps and Burlington Bees and the ‘Caps prevailed, 6-5 in 11 innings.

On Saturday, the Whitecaps completed a four run comeback with three in the bottom of the ninth went on to an 8-7 triumph in 12 innings. Sunday, the Bees tallied three in the top of the ninth to tie the game.

Casper Wells led off the bottom of the 11th with a single for West Michigan. Following a bunt single by Kody Kaiser, a sacrifice bunt by Audy Ciriaco and an intentional walk to Adrian Casanova, Tomas executed his second RBI sacrifice fly of the day to win the game.

Tomas also stole two bases and scored a run.

In the second inning, Burlington grabbed a 2-0 lead on back-to-back doubles by Wilson Tucker and Antonio Jimenez, followed by an RBI single from Ryan Eigsti.

Justin Henry drove a two-run triple to right center field in the bottom of the third for West Michigan, which tied the game, 2-2. Henry scored on the first sac fly by Tomas.

Jon Kibler threw seven innings as the Whitecaps starting pitcher and allowed just two runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. He retired the last ten batters he faced.

West Michigan has won consecutive games for the first time since a 5-0 start to the season culminated with wins on April 6 and 7.

The Whitecaps have also pulled into a three-way tie for first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division along with Lansing and Great Lakes.

Granderson Returns to Play with Whitecaps Monday

April 20th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK, MI — The West Michigan Whitecaps, in conjunction with the Detroit Tigers, announce that Tigers center fielder Curtis Granderson is scheduled to return to West Michigan to play another rehab game with the Whitecaps Monday against Beloit at 6:35 p.m.

Granderson made his first rehab start last Friday in West Michigan and went 2-for-4 with a triple and a single in front of 10,056 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark. He spent the last two games with Triple-A Toledo and went 3-for-9 with a double and one run scored with the Mud Hens.

Granderson began the season on the disabled list after fracturing his right middle finger on March 22 in a spring training game. The 27-year-old center fielder is in his fifth season with the Tigers and is coming off his best season in the Majors in 2007 when he became the second player ever in Major League history to have at least 30 doubles, 20 triples, 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases.

Granderson hit .302 with 23 home runs last season and has a .280 career batting average with 36 triples, 50 homers in 373 career games with Detroit. He was drafted by the Tigers in the third round of the June 2002 draft and made his Major League debut in 2004.

• Gates will open Monday at 3:30 p.m. and fans are encouraged to arrive early.

• The Whitecaps box office will open at 7:00 a.m. Monday morning for ticket sales.

• Fans can also purchase tickets and print them at home from the Whitecaps website at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Garcia throws gem, Granderson’s bat leads gem

April 21st, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – Ramon Garcia allowed one run in eight innings of work while Curtis Granderson delivered an RBI triple and scored in a 2-1 Whitecaps victory over Beloit. West Michigan has won three games in a row.

It was the second game that Granderson has played with the Whitecaps on a rehab assignment from the Detroit Tigers.

Garcia became the first Whitecaps pitcher this season to toss more than seven innings. Noah Krol came on with a runner at second no outs in a one run game in the ninth to earn his second save.

Roger Tomas singled to right field in the third inning to start a West Michigan rally. In trying to stretch the hit into a double, Tomas knocked the ball out of the glove of shortstop Chris Cates, who was waiting to apply the tag at second.

Granderson followed with a triple into the right field corner. Joe Tucker drove in Granderson with an RBI sacrifice fly to center field, which put the ‘Caps in front, 2-0.

Tucker was also hit by a pitch but finished 0-for-2, which brought his 13-game hitting streak to an end.

Beloit’s only run of the game came on a lead-off home run that hit the video board in left field. The blast was the first of the season Deibinson Romero.

In the top of the ninth inning, Cates led off with a double against Garcia. Krol was brought on to face the next better, Joe Benson. Benson missed a bunt attempt and catcher Adrian Casanova threw out Cates at second because Cates had strayed too far toward third base.

Krol then struck out Benson and Steve Singleton to finish the game.

West Michigan matched a season high by turning three double plays in the game, including one on an outfield assist by Tucker.

Beloit left one runner on base in the game, which lasted just two hours and two minutes and was the fastest of the season for the Whitecaps.

Four run first leads to fourth straight win on Apr 22

April 23rd, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – Only Curtis Granderson and Roger Tomas scored for the Whitecaps in a 2-1 win on Monday, but on Tuesday they were the only two position players who did not reach base when the ‘Caps batted around and scored four times in the first inning of a 5-3 win over Beloit. West Michigan has won four games in a row while the Snappers have dropped four straight.

Casper Wells led the offense with a 3-for-3 performance that included a two-run single in the first inning and a stolen base.

Curtis Granderson completed his rehab stint with the Whitecaps with a single in the sixth inning. He was removed from the game in the seventh inning and finished 1-for-3 on Tuesday with a walk. He went 4-for-11 in three games with the ‘Caps, including two triples.

Beloit base runners ran wild with six steals in the game. Catcher Jordan Newton threw out two would-be base stealers.

Chris Carlson put the Whitecaps on the scoreboard in the first with an RBI double. Cory Middleton had a first inning RBI single for the ‘Caps.

In the seventh inning, Beloit’s Ozzie Lewis scored on a double steal plus a throwing error by Newton. But in the bottom of the seventh, Newton replaced the run with a sacrifice fly to center field that drove in Ronnie Bourquin.

Mark Dolenc and Chris Cates had consecutive RBI singles in the second inning for the Snappers, which trimmed the lead to 4-2. Dolenc went 2-for-3 with a walk and two stolen bases.

Alfredo Figaro pitched six innings as the Whitecaps starter to earn the win and improve to 3-0. Noah Krol tossed a perfect ninth to earn a save for the second consecutive game.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Back-to-back two out doubles off reliever Rudy Darrow meant an 11-inning win for Cedar Rapids, 8-7 over the Whitecaps. It was the fifth time in the last nine games that West Michigan has played extra innings. The ‘Caps are 3-2 in extra this year with both loses on the road.

The doubles by Gordie Gronkowski and Clay Fuller produced the first run of the season allowed by Darrow in 12.1 innings of work over ten appearances.

West Michigan grabbed a two run lead in the first inning of what turned out to be a see-saw battle. Ronnie Bourquin came through with an RBI double and Cody Kaiser followed with a triple to put the ‘Caps in front.

Jon Kibler retired the first eight Kernels batters of the game before he issued a two out walk to Ivan Contreras in the third. That walk, followed by a botched rundown on a single by Jeremy Moore led to a five run inning. Julio Perez capped the rally with a two run homer for Cedar Rapids.

Kibler went seven innings and retired the last 11 batters he faced.

Chris Carlson hit the bases umpire with a ground ball in the fifth inning when the bases were loaded. The hit forced in Mark McBratney from third to cut the Kernels lead to 5-3.

West Michigan scored a pair of runs in each the eighth and ninth innings. The two runs in the eighth tied the game, 5-5.

Noah Krol allowed single runs in the bottom of the eighth and ninth, which gave Cedar Rapids the lead and tied the game, respectively.

The Kernels used five different pitchers and blew two save opportunities before Sammy Leon came away with the win.

West Michigan is 1-7 on the road this season against Western Division opponents.

CEDAR RAPIDS, IA – Ramon Garcia pitched seven innings with four hits and one run allowed while the Whitecaps stole five bases in a 9-2 win at Cedar Rapids. With the victory, West Michigan avoided a sweep at the hands of the Kernels.

Each team scored in the third inning. Kody Kaiser crossed the plate for the Whitecaps when Kyle Peter was caught stealing following a rundown between first and second. Anel De Los Santos led off the bottom of the third with a home run to tie the game, 1-1.

In the fifth, Justin Henry, Ronnie Bourquin and Chris Carlson delivered consecutive RBI hits to put West Michigan on top, 4-1. The lead was stretched to 6-1 in the sixth inning thanks to a pair of runs including one on a single by Peter.

Santo Mieses allowed a run in the eighth inning. Cedar Rapids left fielder Jeremy Moore singled to lead off, stole two bases and scored on a ground out by Ivan Contreras. Moore leads the Midwest League with 15 stolen bases.

West Michigan sealed the win with three straight hits to open the ninth from Casper Wells, Jordan Newton and Kaiser. Each of those runners scored to provide the final margin of victory.

Wilton Garcia pitched a scoreless ninth for the Whitecaps.

Kernels starter Jordan Walden along with relievers Eddie McKiernan and Brian Chambers each allowed multiple runs.

Five stolen bases established a new season high for the Whitecaps. Kaiser stole second twice and advanced to second once on fielder’s indifference.

APPLETON, WI – Kody Kaiser went 3-for-4 and delivered the go-ahead RBI single in the top of the eighth inning as the Whitecaps edged Wisconsin, 4-3.

The winning run was scored by Justin Henry who doubled with one out in the eighth by sliding around the tag of Timber Rattlers second baseman Alex Meneses.

There were 25 strikeouts by the two teams combined, including 13 by Whitecaps hitters. Each starting pitcher struck out nine: Alfredo Figaro tossed six innings for West Michigan and left the game with a 3-1 lead. Juan Ramirez went seven innings for Wisconsin.

Gerardo Avila gave Wisconsin a 1-0 lead with a two-out single in the second inning.

In the fifth, Joe Bowen tied the game with a single for the Whitecaps. Kyle Peter then delivered an infield RBI hit with the bases loaded to make the score 2-1.

Ronnie Bourquin drove in Henry on a sacrifice fly in the sixth, which stretched the lead to 3-1.

A two run home run by Korey Feiner in the bottom of the seventh tied the game for Wisconsin off ‘Caps reliever Wilton Garcia.

Rudy Darrow pitched two perfect innings in the eighth and ninth to earn the save.

The game was delayed 14 minutes in the bottom of the fourth inning when a foul ball off the bat of Wisconsin shortstop Juan Diaz hit home plate umpire Nathan Thompson in the arm. Thompson left the game until the top of the fifth when he returned as the bases umpire.

Brandon Misun, who began the game as the bases umpire finished the contest behind the plate. Trevor Van Schindle, a Timber Rattlers intern with umpiring experience filled in on the bases in the absence of Thompson.

West Michigan hitting coach Benny Distephano was ejected from the game by Misun in the top of the fifth. It was the first ejection of Distefano’s coaching career.

APPLETON, WI – West Michigan matched a team record with eight errors in a 7-5 loss to Wisconsin. Shortstop Audy Ciriaco and catcher Jordan Newton each committed three errors for the Whitecaps who matched the mark established on June 16, 1995 at Burlington.

Ironically, only two of the seven Timber Rattlers runs were unearned while a pair of Wisconsin errors led to three unearned runs scored by the Whitecaps.

Wisconsin scored single runs in each the first, second and fourth innings to build a 3-0 lead. West Michigan tallied three runs in the top of the fifth to tie the game.

In the top of the seventh, Kyle Peter led off and reached on a throwing error by pitcher Travis Mortimore. Peter advanced to second on a balk and stole third before he scored on a triple by Newton, which put the ‘Caps on top, 4-3.

However, two walks, three errors and a wild pitch combined to help Wisconsin rally for three runs in the bottom of the seventh. All three runs scored on errors.

Ron Garth went 3-for-4 for the Timber Rattlers with a double and two RBI.

Edward Paredes started the game on the mound for Wisconsin. He allowed three runs (1 ER) on five hits in six innings of work. Mortimore tossed the next two innings and picked up the win to improve to 1-1.

Shawn Kelley allowed back-to-back two out doubles in the top of the ninth by Justin Henry and Newton. But Kelley struck out Chris Carlson to end the game and earn his third save.

Paul Nardozzi pitched the final 1.2 innings for West Michigan, allowed the go ahead runs in the seventh and took the loss to fall to 2-1.

Manny Miguelez made the start for the Whitecaps and lasted five innings with three runs allowed on six hits.

West Michigan pitchers matched a season high (April 5 at South Bend) with seven walks issued.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

Gagnier stifles Wisconsin in near shutout

April 30th, 2008



APPLETON, WI – Lauren Gagnier struck out eleven in six shutout innings of work to earn his first victory as the Whitecaps defeated Wisconsin, 6-1. The Timber Rattlers scored with one out in the bottom of the ninth off West Michigan closer Noah Krol and have not been shutout this season.

In the top of the first inning, the Whitecaps batted around and scored three times on three hits and two Wisconsin errors. Justin Henry had an RBI on a ground ball, Casper Wells delivered an RBI single and Joe Bowen drove in a run on a walk in the first.

Kyle Peter scored his second run of the game in the second when Henry grounded into a double play. Peter scored a third time in the eighth on a single by Joe Tucker, who went 4-for-5 at the plate to boost his average to .369. That run boosted the West Michigan lead to 6-0.

Kody Kaiser hit his first home run of the season to lead off the eighth inning. It was the first Whitecaps home run since Ronnie Bourquin went deep on April 19 against Burlington.

Gagnier allowed just three hits and two walks during his time on the mound. Kelvin Cedano followed with two perfect innings of relief before Krol pitched the ninth for the ‘Caps.

Wisconsin used six pitchers in the game. Jake Wild made his first start for the Timber Rattlers but lasted just 1.2 innings and surrendered four runs (2 ER).

Peter went 3-for-5 in the game and Kaiser was 2-for-5.

West Michigan took two of three in the series from the Timber Rattlers and finished the road trip 3-3.

COMSTOCK PARK – In April, the Whitecaps tied a team record with 15 wins. In their first game in May, the Whitecaps set or tied several team records in a 16-3 win over Quad Cities.

West Michigan batters established a new team record by being hit by pitches six times in the game. The old mark was five, established on June 26, 2001 against the Michigan Battle Cats. Casper Wells was hit by a pitch four times, doubling the old team mark, which was achieved 13 times, most recently by Joe Tucker on August 7, 2007 in Clinton.

Jordan Newton helped lead the offensive attack and fell a home run short of the cycle. Newton twice hit triples to the base of the wall in left field and went 4-for-6 in the game with three runs scored and an RBI. Two triples tied a team record, most recently accomplished by Deik Scram on May 5, 2007 against Burlington.

The 16 runs in a game was the most since the ‘Caps tallied a 17-7 win over Dayton on August 2, 2004.

Whitecaps center fielder Kyle Peter made two dazzling defensive plays in the first two innings. One was a running grab a foot from the wall in left-center to end the top of the first as Quad Cities left the bases loaded. The other and most impressive was a sliding basket-style catch made at the end of a full sprint with his back to home plate as his feet touched the wall in straightaway center.

Peter went 2-for-5 with a pair of RBI on a single in the third that put West Michigan on top, 8-0.

The Whitecaps led 16-1 following a three-run home run by Cory Middleton in the seventh inning. Middleton went 2-for-4 with four RBI and scored three times. The homer was his first as a Whitecap since September 2, 2006 when he hit an inside the park home run in Dayton.

Jon Kibler walked the first three River Bandits batters of the game, then retired nine straight to carry a shutout into the fourth inning. Kibler allowed two hits in seven innings and picked up the win.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

Home win streak ends with loss to River Bandits

May 3rd, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – A six game home winning streak – the longest for West Michigan since July 2006 – came to an end with a 5-3 Whitecaps loss to Quad Cities.

The River Bandits grabbed a 5-0 lead by scoring two in the first, one in the fifth and two more in the sixth, all off West Michigan starter Ramon Garcia.

Domnit Bolivar led the Quad Cities offense with a triple in the first with a run scored then a two-run double in the sixth that pushed the lead to 5-0.

Andrew Brown, Justin Roberson and Jose Garcia each had two hits for the River Bandits.

Starting pitcher Thomas Eager allowed just one hit and three walks in four shutout innings of work for Quad Cities. Eduardo Sanchez came on in relief and threw three shutout innings before he allowed three Whitecaps without recording an out in the bottom of the eighth inning.

Three consecutive hitters drove in runs for West Michigan: With the bases loaded Joe Tucker was hit by a pitch for the second time in the game, Chris Carlson hit a sacrifice fly to left and Ronnie Bourquin singled home the final run of the game.

Cardoza Tucker, Jr. finished the eighth inning and pitched two total shutout innings to close out the game and earn his second save.

Andrew Hess tossed 2.1 shutout innings of relief for West Michigan and fellow reliever Noah Krol was perfect in the top of the ninth.

Ramon Garcia balked twice in 5.2 innings pitched for the Whitecaps. He also balked twice April 14 in a loss at Peoria.

05/04/2008 5:58 PM ET
Whitecaps' Figaro plays Bandits like a violin
Right-hander fans career-best 11 in complete-game three-hitter
By Shane Figueroa / Special to MLB.com

Alfredo Figaro orchestrated another dominant performance.

Figaro tossed the first complete-game shutout of his career as the defending Midwest League-champion West Michigan Whitecaps blanked the Quad Cities River Bandits, 4-0, at Fifth Third Ballpark.

The 23-year-old right-hander scattered three hits without a walk and set a career high with 11 strikeouts. He improved his record to 4-0 and lowered his Midwest League-leading ERA to 0.47.

"He competed very well and had a big smile on his face trotting off the mound," Whitecaps pitching coach Mark Johnson said. "He was proud of himself and his performance, and he had every right to be. He was in total control of this game and had complete command of four pitches."

Of the season-high 112 pitches Figaro threw, 84 were strikes. He faced 31 hitters, fired 24 first-pitch strikes and never fell behind in the count beyond 1-0 or 2-1.

After allowing Mike Folli's leadoff single in the first inning, Figaro retired 22 consecutive hitters. He recorded four outs in the third when Luis De La Cruz reached after striking out on a wild pitch.

"He was throwing his fastball, curveball, changeup and slider for strikes and that kept their hitters off balance," Johnson said. "Alfredo and I have worked on making adjustments between pitches, as opposed to between batters. He was fastball-heavy one inning and changeup-heavy the next. He mixed them all in, and more importantly, all in the strike zone."

After Matthew Arburr singled to snap his streak of 22 straight outs in the eighth, Figaro retired the next three, whiffing Justin Roberson to end the frame. Folli led off the ninth with his second base hit, but Figaro didn't relent. He struck out Domnit Bolivar and caught a break when Peter Kozma lined out to shortstop Roger Tomas. Charles Kingrey grounded out to third to complete his shutout.

"There are times in 2007 when, like any young pitcher, he'd overthrow," Johnson said. "He's not doing that right now. His mechanics have been that consistent. I've seen him overthrow a pitch and immediately correct himself. He's maturing as a pitcher, not just with his stuff, but the way he uses it."

Christopher Carlson tripled and scored on Casper Wells' RBI single in the fourth and Mark McBratney tripled and crossed home plate on Kyle Peter's sacrifice in the fifth for the first-place Whitecaps (17-11).

Figaro's batterymate, Joseph Bowen, delivered a run-scoring base hit in the seventh.

Starter Shaun Garceau (0-2) surrendered an unearned run on a hit and fanned one over three innings for Quad Cities (16-12).

Shane Figueroa is a contributor to MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of the National Association of Professional Baseball Leagues or its clubs.

COMSTOCK PARK – Kane County took advantage of back-to-back walks to start the ninth and scored twice for a come-from behind, 2-1 victory over the Whitecaps.

Noah Krol blew a save for the first time this season and took the loss.

Kyle Peter scored the only run of the game for West Michigan in the third inning. Peter led off the frame with a double, moved to second on a ground out by Roger Tomas, then scored on a double steal after Justin Henry walked to reach first base.

Kane County had a runner in scoring position in every inning, but did not tally a run until the top of the ninth.

With two on and no outs in the ninth, Walter Correa laid down a sacrifice bunt for the Cougars. Tomas charged from third and his throw to first hit Correa in the back, which allowed pinch runner Michael Lissman to score from second and tie the game, 1-1.

Adam Klein then hit a ball back to Krol, who shoveled to catcher Joe Bowen, who was run over at home by Christian Vitters. Bowen held onto the ball for the first out of the inning, but Correa advanced to third.

With Keough at the plate, the Cougars attempted a squeeze play, but Keough missed the bunt and Correa was caught in a rundown for the second out of the inning. However, Klein moved to second on the play, which set the stage for a go-ahead single by Keough.

Kane County’s Justin Friend walked Audy Ciriaco and Bowen to start the bottom of the ninth, but then retired the next three hitters in a row to earn his second save of the season.

Scott Deal pitched two shutout innings of relief to earn the victory for the Cougars.

When Kane County scored in the ninth, it ended a streak of 20.1 consecutive innings pitched by the Whitecaps without a run allowed. Manny Miguelez pitched 5.2 innings as the starter for West Michigan.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

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COMSTOCK PARK – For the first time this season, the Whitecaps allowed double digit runs in a 10-3 loss to Kane County. By dropping the first two in a three game series against the Cougars, West Michigan has lost consecutive home games for the first time since August 3 and 4, 2007 when the ‘Caps dropped two straight against Quad Cities.

Lauren Gagnier allowed five runs on eight hits in 3.2 innings pitched as the Whitecaps. He took the loss in a follow up to six shutout innings pitched in his previous start at Wisconsin last Wednesday.

Following 3.1 innings of relief by Paul Nardozzi in which he allowed just one run, West Michigan trailed 6-3. The Whitecaps loaded the bases on three walks with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning. However, Joe Tucker lined to shortstop Christian Vitters, who started an inning ending double play.

In the top of the eighth, the Cougars took advantage of three walks issued by Kelvin Cedano and scored four times to put away the game and provide the final margin of victory. The runs in the eighth came home on a pair of two run doubles by Greg Dowling and Vitters.

Dowling hit a two-run home run in the top of the third to give Kane County the lead for good, 3-1.

Adrian Casanova returned to the Whitecaps following two weeks in extended spring training with 1-for-3 performance that featured a sacrifice fly and two RBI.

Kody Kaiser went 3-for-4 with a ground rule double and a run scored. Roger Tomas also crossed home for the Whitecaps as he went 2-for-3 with a triple and a sacrifice bunt.

Shane Keough scored three times for Kane County. He went 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI triple.

Scott Hodsdon earned his first victory of the year (1-4) with six innings of work for the Cougars. Lance Sewell picked up a three-inning save by holding the Whitecaps scoreless.

Matt Smith hit a solo home run for Kane County.


Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Wednesday’s game between the West Michigan Whitecaps and Kane County Cougars at Fifth Third Ballpark as been cancelled due to rain and wet field conditions. The game will not be made up because the two clubs will not meet again in the first half of the Midwest League season.

Tickets for Wednesday’s game can be redeemed at the Whitecaps box office for tickets of equal value to any of the remaining 54 games on the 2008 home schedule.

The two teams were locked in a scoreless tie three batters deep into the bottom of the first inning. Play was stopped due to heavy rain and was delayed 2 hours and 52 minutes before the game was called.

At least 5,000 school children were expected to be in attednance with an 11 a.m. scheduled start. Those students were notified before noon that their tickets would be good for a future home game, regardless of the outcome of the situation.

This will be the first season since 2006 that the Whitecaps will not play a full 140 game regular season schedule. West Michigan played 137 regular season games two seasons ago.

Kane County comes away with a two-game sweep of the abbriviated series.

West Michigan will next play four consecutive games against Lansing, begining with two at Oldmobile Park Thursday and Friday. LHP Ramon Garcia (3-3, 3.46) is expected to be on the mound for the Whitecaps Thursday against Lugnuts LHP Nate Starner (1-3, 2.18). First pitch is slated for 7:05 p.m. The Davenport University Career Start Up Show begins at 6:55 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL and at wbbl.com.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

Garcia throws second ‘Caps shutout of the week

May 8th, 2008

LANSING – Ramon Garcia became the second Whitecaps pitcher this week to toss a three-hit shutout as West Michigan defeated Lansing, 2-0. Alfredo Figaro threw a three-hit shutout in a 4-0 win over Quad Cities on Sunday.

Justin Henry drove in the only two runs of the game with a two-run single in the third. Kody Kaiser and Audy Ciriaco each scored on the play and Kyle Peter was thrown out at home plate. Peter tried to advance from third when the throw from center fielder Darin Mastroianni bounced through to the fence that protects the Whitecaps dugout.

West Michigan outhit the Lugnuts, 11-3 as the bottom three hitters in the Whitecaps order: Kaiser, Ciriaco and Joe Bowen, each went 2-for-4.

Garcia’s last complete game shutout was May 23, 2006 against South Bend. The lefty faced 29 batters in that contest and allowed just one hit and one walk.

Casper wells went 2-for-4 at the plate for West Michigan.

During a trip to the mound by Lansing pitching coach Tom Signore in the sixth inning, a firecracker was thrown onto the field. It exploded a few feet off the ground between the home plate umpire and Ciriaco, who was approaching the plate. The person who threw the firecracker was ejected from the stadium and play was only interrupted momentarily.

Big inning dooms Whitecaps in Lansing

May 9th, 2008

LANSING – Lansing used two walks, a hit batsman, and three hits to score five runs in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-3 win over the Whitecaps.

Alfredo Figaro made the start for West Michigan and was coming off a complete game shutout Sunday against Quad Cities. He allowed two runs in the first inning to double his RBI total for the year, but went six innings total in and took his first loss of the season (4-1). Figaro’s ERA went from a Minor League-best 0.46 to 0.80.

West Michigan scored in the top of the first inning when Roger Tomas was hit by a pitch to start the game and eventually crossed home thanks to a throwing error by shortstop Justin Jackson.

In the bottom of the first, Figaro hit Darin Mastroianni with a pitch to start the inning. Mastroianni scored on a throwing error on a pick-off try by Figaro. Justin Jackson, who singled to reach base, crossed the plate on a sacrifice fly by C. J. Ebarb the put the Lugnuts on top, 2-1.

Brad Mills pitched 6.1 innings as the Lansing starter and allowed one unearned run on three hits and a walk with eight strikeouts to pick up the win (2-2).

Following an inning of scoreless relief by Wilton Garcia, Noah Krol started the eighth inning on the mound for the Whitecaps. He issued a walk, then a hit by pitch and allowed a single to load the bases before he walked John Tolisano to force in a run and make the score, 3-1. At that point, West Michigan manager Joe DePastino was ejected for the first time in his professional managerial career.

Rudy Darrow then came in to pitch and allowed a three-run triple into the right field corner off the bat of Manny Rodriguez, which broke the game open and made the score, 6-1.

In the top of the ninth, Chris Carlson and Casper Wells became the first Whitecaps players to hit back-to-back home runs since Gorkys Hernandez and James Skelton on July 31, 2007 against Peoria. Wells leads the Whitecaps with four home runs.

Miguelez earns first win as a Whitecap

May 10th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK – Manny Miguelez threw seven innings and allowed just one Lansing run to earn his first victory of the season in a 4-2 Whitecaps triumph over the Lugnuts.

West Michigan turned four double plays in the game. The last of which was the final play of the game when Joel Collins hit a grounder back to Whitecaps closer Noah Krol.

Casper Wells hit a home run for the second straight at bat when he led off the second inning. The solo shot put West Michigan in front for good, 2-1.

Thanks to a sacrifice fly by Mark McBratney and a double by Kyle Peter, the Whitecaps went on to score three runs in the second to go ahead, 4-1.

After a Ronnie Bourquin ground out drove in Justin Henry and put the ‘Caps on top, 1-0 in the bottom of the first, Manny Rodriguez hit an RBI single to right for Lansing that tied the game, 1-1 in the top of the second.

Miguelez allowed four hits, a run and a walk with eight strikeouts in seven innings of work.

With Andrew Hess on the mound in the eighth inning, Moises Sierra doubled with two out, then scored on a single by Darin Mastroianni, which cut the lead to 4-2.

Krol pitched the ninth inning and faced the minimum three hitters to earn his team-leading fourth save of the season. It was a solid rebound for Krol, who on Friday in Lansing, faced four batters who all scored.

Randy Boone went six innings and allowed all four Whitecaps runs to take his first loss of the season and fall to 3-1.

Peter and Henry each had two hits for the Whitecaps. Mastroianni and John Tolisano each had two hits for the Lugnuts

Game rained out,
Sprint Breast Cancer Awareness Day rescheduled

May 11th, 2008

COMSTOCK PARK - The West Michigan Whitecaps game against the Lansing Lugnuts scheduled for Sunday afternoon has been postponed due to rain. It will be made up as part of a double header on Friday, May 16. The first of two seven-inning games will begin at 6:35 p.m.

Sunday was also slated to be Sprint Breast Cancer Awareness Day. That event, which features the Whitecaps wearing pink uniform tops and a number fund-raising activities for the Susan G. Komen Foundation has been rescheduled for Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 when the Whitecaps host the Dayton Dragons at 2 p.m.

Tickets to Sunday’s game can be redeemed for any remaining Whitecaps home game this season, subject to availability.

On Monday, West Michigan will open a four game series in Fort Wayne. RHP Lauren Gagnier (1-3, 6.52) will be on the mound for the ‘Caps against Wizards RHP Jeremy McBryde (0-3, 1 save, 6.00). First pitch is slated for 6:00 p.m. The Davenport University Career Startup Show will begin at 5:55 p.m. on 1340 AM WBBL, the Whitecaps Radio Network and at wbbl.com.

FORT WAYNE, IN – A five game losing streak came to an end for Fort Wayne as the Wizards edged the Whitecaps, 2-1.

Jeremy McBryde earned his first victory of the season with his longest outing of the year. The right hander went five innings and allowed one run on three hits.

Three relievers combined to finish the game and maintain the 2-1 lead.

Lauren Gagnier tossed seven innings for the Whitecaps and yielded six hits but no walks and allowed both Wizards runs. He struck out seven, but took the loss to fall to 1-4.

Following a double by Justin Baum and a single by Yefri Carvajal, Zach Brown put Fort Wayne in front with a two-out, two run double to the right field corner in the second inning.

West Michigan’s only run of the game came on the first career home run for Adrian Casanova, which led off the fifth inning.

Against Matt Teague, the Whitecaps left two runners on base in both the sixth and seventh innings. But Derek McDaid and Jackson Quezada, who earned his second save of the season, each pitched perfect innings to close out the win for Fort Wayne.

Brown finished 2-for-3 at the plate.

Kyle Peter was 2-for-4 for the Whitecaps.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports

FORT WAYNE, IN – Casper Wells hit home runs in the both the eighth and ninth innings as the Whitecaps collected a season-high 20 hits en route to an 11-3 trouncing of Fort Wayne.

The game was tied, 1-1 after seven innings as West Michigan lefty Jon Kibler dueled the Wizards pitching staff. Fort Wayne used three hurlers over the first seven innings.

In the top of the eighth, the Whitecaps sent 14 batters to the plate and erupted for eight runs in the eighth inning.

Wells and Cory Middleton each went deep in the eighth for West Michigan as every Whitecap in the lineup reached base. Only Chris Carlson, who reached on an error, did not have a hit in the inning. The ‘Caps collected nine hits in the eighth along with a pair of Wizards errors and a walk and left the bases loaded.

Kibler allowed just three hits and an unearned run in seven innings to pick up the victory. He walked two and struck out eight.

Wilton Garcia allowed a solo home run to Fort Wayne’s Luis Martinez in the bottom of the eighth and Paul Nardozzi gave up a solo shot to Angel Mercado with two out in the bottom of the ninth, but finished the game.

Mat Latos allowed one run on three hits in four innings as the Wizards starting pitcher. Geoff Vandel threw a scoreless sixth and seventh, but allowed six runs (5 ER) in the eighth before he was removed from the game with only one out.

Zach Brown, who was the offensive hero for Fort Wayne in the series opener on Monday, pitched the top of the ninth on Tuesday. Brown is normally an infielder and as the designated hitter Monday went 2-for-3 with a two-run double. On Tuesday, he allowed two runs on three hits, including the seventh home run of the season by Wells.

It was the first time since September 2, 2007 at Lansing that the Whitecaps have tallied 20 hits in a game.

Wells finished 4-for-5 with four RBI. Audy Ciriaco was 4-for-5 for the Whitecaps with a triple and two stolen bases.

Entry Filed under: General, Post-Game Reports