Knebel, Whitecaps hang on for thrilling win
PEORIA, IL - The West Michigan Whitecaps survived a ninth-inning rally to knock off the Peoria Chiefs, 5-4, in the opener of a three-game series at Dozer Park on Saturday night.
West Michigan (14-14, 47-51) improved to 11-11 against Western Division opponents and 2-2 on their current road trip, which marks the final stretch of interdivisional play for the 2013 season.
The Whitecaps took a 5-3 lead into the bottom of the ninth inning, but Peoria (14-14, 52-43) nearly came back in front of a rowdy Saturday night crowd of 5,934.
Breyvic Valera led off the ninth inning with a double down the first base line and Jeremy Schaffer followed with a five-pitch walk. After a high fastball on the next pitch to Ildemaro Vargas, catcher Adolfo Reina fired behind the lead runner and appeared to have Valera picked off at second - but the ball bounced away and both runners advanced a base.
Suddenly, the Chiefs had the potential game-tying run in scoring position with runners at second and third and nobody out.
But Knebel, the 39th overall pick in the 2013 draft, was able to bounce back. He induced a pop-out to shallow right-center from Vargas and then a blooper to center from pinch-hitter Nick Martini. After Harrell raced in to catch the second out off Martini's bat, his throw back to the infield got away and allowed Valera to scamper home on the second error of the inning.
With a 5-4 lead and a runner at second, Knebel induced a spinning tapper to the right side of the infield from C.J. McElroy. The hurler pounced off the mound and gloved the baseball, continuing to run towards first base for the game's final out.
Knebel (5) stayed perfect with five saves in as many opportunities, allowing just an unearned run in his final frame but protecting the two-run lead. Endrys Briceno (6-6) earned the win with five solid innings, allowing three runs on six hits while fanning five and walking one.
West Michigan overcame an early 2-0 deficit to plate five unanswered runs against Peoria starter Silfredo Garcia (2-3).
After getting off to a fast start, Garcia lost his command in the third inning and issued three walks - including one to Lance Durham with the bases loaded. The 'Caps loaded the bases again in the fourth inning and followed with three straight run-scoring plate appearances on a single by Danry Vasquez, a groundout by Jared Reaves and a sacrifice fly by Jeff Holm. In the fifth, Durham led off with a towering solo homer to right - his team-leading 10th of the year - to give the Whitecaps a 5-2 lead that proved to be enough.
Garcia was charged with five runs on eight hits over six innings in the loss.
The Whitecaps continue their six-game road trip on Sunday evening with a 6:00 p.m. ET first pitch against the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Field. RHP Jeff Thompson (1-0, 3.00) is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Brad Watson (2-2, 4.15) of the Chiefs. The next home game at Fifth Third Ballpark will be at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 24, featuring a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House and post-game fireworks presented by Family Fare. Group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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