West Michigan pounds out 15 hits in rainy win

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps had no problem making the quick turnaround after a 14-inning win on Friday, overcoming a 71-minute rain delay on Saturday afternoon to establish season-highs for both runs and hits in a game during an 8-1 win over the Beloit Snappers at Fifth Third Ballpark.

West Michigan (5-4) pounded out 15 hits, including three apiece from Raph Rhymes, Brett Harrison and Wynton Bernard. After Beloit (4-5) jumped ahead with a run in the top of the first, Whitecaps' starter Buck Farmer and a pair of relievers allowed just one Snappers' baserunner to reach scoring position the rest of the way.

The Whitecaps will go for the series sweep in Sunday afternoon's 1:00 p.m. homestand finale.

The 'Caps slowly built a 4-1 lead as steady rain fell during the first 5-1/2 innings of the game. Following the 71-minute rain delay in the middle of the sixth, West Michigan ambushed Beloit for four quick runs upon the resumption of play.

The rally started with three consecutive singles to load the bases against reliever Trevor Bayless. Jose Zambrano drew a walk to force in a run and Javier Betancourt added a looping single to center. Rhymes followed with a hard bouncer to third that ate up B.A. Vollmuth, caroming into left-center for a two-run single.

After coming out of the rain delay with six consecutive baserunners, the Whitecaps quickly seized a comfortable 8-1 cushion.

Farmer (1-1) earned the win, pitching through the raindrops and dealing six innings of one-run baseball to earn a quality start. Though he was touched for an early run in the top of the first inning, the 23-year-old right-hander minimized the damage by stranding the bases loaded in the first and leaving eight Snappers on the basepaths during his six innings of work. Farmer scattered seven hits while fanning six and walking one, punctuating his outing by striking out the side in the sixth.

Moments after his last strikeout, the umpires cleared the field and placed the game into a rain delay.

Prior to the delay, West Michigan shrugged off the early 1-0 deficit to surge for four unanswered runs between the second and fourth innings.

Ben Verlander led off the second inning with a single and moved to third when Harold Castro poked an opposite-field double down the left field line. Bennett Pickar followed with a run-scoring groundout and Harrison added a groundball single up the middle that put the 'Caps in front, 2-1.

In the third, Dominic Ficociello manufactured a run by reaching base on a fielder's choice, stealing second, taking third on a wild pitch and scoring on an error. One inning later, Pickar drew a leadoff walk and later came in to score on another Snappers' error as the lead swelled to 4-1.

Beloit's Dylan Covey (0-1) allowed four runs - three earned - on eight hits over five innings in the loss.

The Whitecaps conclude their first homestand of the season with a 1:00 p.m. first pitch on Sunday afternoon against the Beloit Snappers at Fifth Third Ballpark. RHP Austin Kubitza is scheduled to pitch for West Michigan against RHP Ronald Herrera of the Snappers. Season, group and individual tickets can be reserved by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

Click here to view the box score.