[dropcap]A[/dropcap]n eighth inning rally by the West Michigan Whitecaps (1-2) nearly secured a game-tying chance, but a play at the plate by the devious Dayton Dragons (2-1) stalled the comeback and handed the ‘Caps their second loss of the season in a 3-1 performance.
Ben Verlander and Curt Powell kick started the rally at the top of the eighth with a single each before a sacrifice bunt put Verlander and Powell on third and second, respectively. The fourth ‘Caps batter was walked to load the bases, giving Jose Zambrano the chance to make some noise. Zambrano hit a bouncing single up the middle, advancing runners and driving Verlander home.
Powell was poised to make the tying run on the play, but Dayton centerfielder Beau Amaral fired a rocket to the plate to catch Powell. The inning ended when Dayton reliever Alejandro Chacin struck out Wynton Bernard to preserve the 2-1 lead.
The Dragons added an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth off a leadoff error, the Whitecaps first of the season, for an unearned run.
Dominic Ficociello tallied a two-out single in the ninth to extend the game, but Chacin responded by striking out Verlander to end the game.
Ismael Guillon (1-0) earned the win for the Dragons. He controlled the game for six innings, allowing just three hits and pitching a shutout. In 2013, Guillon led the Midwest League in both strikeouts and walks, and continued that trend by striking out six and giving up just one walk.
Buck Farmer (0-1) took the loss, though he collected a career-high seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings in his Midwest League
debut. He gave up two runs on three hits, all of which came during a four-batter stretch with nobody out in the second
inning.
Verlander went 2-for-4 at the plate, earning a run but was struck out twice. The ‘Caps managed seven hits in the game, but four of those came in the final two innings.
The Whitecaps and Dragons will play their final game of the four-game series today at 2 p.m. Following the series, the ‘Caps will have Monday off and return to Fifth Third Ballpark Tuesday for the highly-anticipated home opener against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers.
