Wynton Bernard went 2-for-3 in Monday’s win over South Bend with a run and an RBI tallied. Pit file photo
[dropcap]A[/dropcap] 6-2 victory over the South Bend Silver Hawks on Monday moved the West Michigan Whitecaps into first place and whittled their magic number down to two.
West Michigan (38-26) achieved their first perfect multi-series homestand in franchise history, going 6-0 with sweeps over Great Lakes and South Bend (37-26). The Whitecaps have won 10 of their last 12 games and claimed nine straight home victories – one shy of a franchise record for consecutive home victories. During the homestand, the Whitecaps led after 46 of 54 innings and didn’t commit an error, allow more than two runs or score fewer than four runs in any of the six victories.
In the first inning Monday, the ‘Caps fell behind 1-0 but quickly tied the score during a three-pitch sequence in the third that saw back-to-back doubles from Bennett Pickar and Francisco Contreras.
An inning later, West Michigan took the lead for good. With one out and loaded bases, Willy Adames hammered a 1-1 fastball to the left field that cleared the bases with a three-run double.
South Bend attempted a comeback in the top of the fifth with an RBI-single by Andrew Velazquez to cut the deficit to 4-2. With two men on base and one out, Contreras started a 5-4-3 double play that ended the inning and the rally. The ‘Caps then answered in the bottom of the inning. Austin Schotts led off the inning with a double while Raphy Rhymes worked a nine-pitch at-bat before drilling a double to deep left-center to bring Schotts home.
Wynton Bernard added a run-scoring single to lift the Whitecaps to a comfortable 6-2 lead.
Kevin Ziomek (4-5) worked through a rocky opening inning to earn a win. He needed 30 pitches to get through the opening frame, but found his command and went on to retire 10 batters straight between the first and fourth innings. He was charged with two runs on three hits. He struck out seven and walked three.
All-star reliever Joe Mantiply gave up a leadoff double in the sixth, but that became South Bend’s last baserunner of the game. Mantiply set down the next nine batters he faced on six strikeouts and three groundouts for three shutout innings. Scott Sitz took over the ninth and retired South Bend in order.
Hector Hernandez (3-2) took the loss after giving up six runs on 10 hits over five innings of work.
West Michigan will continue their playoff push with a six-game road trip that begins tonight at 7:05 p.m. against the Great Lakes Loons. Chad Green (1-2, 3.44 ERA) will start on the mound against RHP Scott Barlow (1-2, 4.71 ERA) of Great Lakes. With two more wins, the Whitecaps will secure a wildcard playoff berth, at the least.
A week from today, West Michigan will host the 2014 Midwest League All-Star Classic at Fifth Third Ballpark. The Pit will be on hand for the day’s festivities, so be sure to follow us on Twitter @ThePit_SE and the Whitecaps as well @wmwhitecaps.
