[dropcap]I[/dropcap]t took 14 innings Friday night for the West Michigan Whitecaps to put away the Beloit Snappers. Wynton Bernard notched the victory for the ‘Caps with a walk-off double.
The Whitecaps (4-4) and the Snappers (4-4) were scoreless through the first seven innings and were even at 1-1 through 13. Bernard ended the pitching duel and stalemate when Snappers’ Wynton Bernard issues a leadoff walk in the 14th. Bernard smacked a deep fly to the warning track in right-center to drive home the game winning run.
Reliever Joe Mantiply earned the win on the mound for the ‘Caps pitching crew, allowing just one hit and striking out three in 2.2 innings of work. Fellow bullpen-mates Julio Felix and Scott
Sitz were effective, combining for six innings of one-run baseball.
Crawford
Standout pitching prospect Jonathon Crawford got the start in his Fifth Third Ballpark debut. He pitched 5.1 innings, allowing four singles and one walk with five strikeouts. He retired 12 of the first 13 batters he faced on the day.
Both the Snappers and Whitecaps scored in the eighth inning. In the top of the frame, the Snappers got doubles from Luis Baez and B.J. Boyd for a 1-0 lead.
Ben Verlander evened things up in the bottom of the inning. After dumping a two-out double just inside the right field line, Raph Rhymes hit a bouncing ground ball past Beloit first baseman Ryan Huck. Verlander beat the pass to the plate to even things up, 1-1.
West Michigan is currently playing Beloit at home with a 2-1 lead. Follow along with the game by following the team on Twitter @wmwhitecaps.
