Javier Betancourt contributed to the ‘Caps historic win, going 2-for-6 at the plate with a run-scoring double in the sixth. Pit file photo.
[dropcap]W[/dropcap]est Michigan rolled to their biggest win ever, as the Whitecaps pounded the Fort Wayne TinCaps 19-1 Sunday night. The Whitecaps tallied 17 hits and 18 RBI’s in their record-setting performance.
Just weeks after suffering their worse loss in franchise history, West Michigan (32-25) used Sunday’s huge victory to pull within 2.5 games of first place South Bend and three games ahead of Dayton in the race for the two first-half playoff berths in the Midwest League-East.
Along with their offensive onslaught, the ‘Caps also benefited from a sloppy performance by Fort Wayne (25-31) that included 11 walks and three errors.
Of all the season-highs the Whitecaps set Sunday, none are perhaps more significant than their bashing of four home runs. Raph Rhymes and Austin Schotts each finished a triple show of the cycle while Jeff Holm drove in five runs in the first three innings. Willy Adames and Rhymes tallied four RBI’s apiece and every starter picked up at least one hit and one run scored.
The big day began in the top of the first inning for West Michigan. After TinCaps; starting pitcher Payton Baskette issued consecutive two-out walkes, Holm lined a two-run double over the left fielder’s head to give the Whitecaps the early 2-0 lead.
West Michigan went back to work in the third with a 2-1 lead. Schotts drew a leadoff walk, stole second and then scored on a base hit by Rhymes. Following a single by Dominic Ficcociello, Holm drilled a three-run homer to right field off a 1-0 pitch. Later, a dropped fly ball enabled the Whitecaps to score a fifth run with two outs for a 7-1 lead.
Fort Wayne went to the bullpen to mend the bleeding in the fourth, but their efforts failed. Schotts and Rhymes each tagged solo homers against Tony Rizzotti to extend the lead to 9-1.
The blowout turned into a historic rout as the ‘Caps exploded for nine runs in the top of the sixth. Thirteen batters came to the plate, recording four doubles, one triple, a home run and three walks. Rizzotti gave up three doubles and walked two before being removed in favor of Wilson Santos with nobody out. Three batters later, Adames nailed a three-run home run to push across the seventh run of the frame with just one out. Francisco Contreras added an RBI-triple and Javier Betancourt lined a run-scoring double, giving the ‘Caps an 18-1 lead before the TinCaps retired the side.
With the previous record of a 16-run win margin already shattered, West Michigan added one final, unearned run in the top of the seventh for the final of 19-1.
Jon Maciel’s performance was lost in the offensive explosion has he performed with another solid outing. Maciel (3-2) started and threw six strong innings. The 21-year-old right-hander gave up a run in the first inning but allowed just one baserunner to reach scoring position thereafter. He struck out eight without issuing a walk, giving up just one run on five hits. Matt Davenport (3) took over from there, working three shutout innings to earn a save despite entering the game with an 18-run lead.
Baskette (1-2) took the loss, allowing seven runs – six earned – in three innings of work. Each of the first three pitchers for Fort Wayne allowed at least six runs each.
The Whitecaps will wrap up their three-game road series tonight against the TinCaps at 7:05 p.m. at Parkview Field. Kevin Ziomek (3-5, 2.34 ERA) will take the start for West Michigan to face RHP Walker Weickel (1-6, 6.84 ERA).
