Greene Sharp in Whitecaps Win
FORT WAYNE, IN - The West Michigan Whitecaps used great defense, timely hitting, and the services of a Major Leaguer as part of a 3-1 win over the Fort Wayne TinCaps Friday at Parkview Field.
The Whitecaps started the contest with Detroit Tigers pitcher Shane Greene -- who was on a Minor League rehab assignment -- on the mound. Greene began the game issuing a leadoff walk to Pete Van Gansen and a single to Ruddy Giron, but rallied to retire the next three hitters in-order. The righty from Clermont, FL, struck out Austin Allen and Carlos Belen before getting Michael Gettys to ground out. After working a 1-2-3 second, Greene took a ground ball from Van Gansen off his foot in the third. The play resulted in an infield single, but Greene remained in the game. Later in the frame, Allen blasted a 3-2 pitch with two outs and a runner on second off the wall in right-center field, but had called for time moments before the pitch. Time was granted by home plate umpire Ryan Wilhelms, and the double, as well as Fort Wayne's first run, was waved off. Allen struck out on the next pitch, slammed his bat and helmet to the ground, and was ejected by Wilhelms. Greene finished the contest with three scoreless innings on two hits, walking a batter and striking out five.
LISTEN: GREENE'S FIFTH STRIKEOUT - ALLEN EJECTED
The 'Caps broke a scoreless tie in the sixth when David Gonzalez lined his first home run of the season down the right-field line; a solo shot to give West Michigan a 1-0 lead. The Whitecaps tallied single runs in the seventh and eighth thanks to a triple by Jose Azocar and a sacrifice fly by Will Allen to extend the lead to 3-0. In the ninth, the TinCaps scored a run, and put the potential winning run on-base before Azocar thwarted the Fort Wayne rally with a spectacular throw to home plate to retire Brad Zunica attempting to score for the second out.
LISTEN: AZOCAR LAUNCHES THE "AZOOKA" IN THE 9TH
Whitecaps pitcher Beau Burrows (2-3) picked up the victory for five innings of shutout baseball in relief of Greene while striking out two, while TinCaps reliever Austin Smith (0-3) allowed three runs in four innings to take his third loss. Jake Shull allowed a run on four hits in the ninth, but managed to pick up his fifth save. The 'Caps improve to a season-best four games over .500 at 21-17, while Fort Wayne falls to 21-20. Gonzalez led the way for West Michigan's offense, going 3-for-3 with the homerun.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this four-game series with the Fort Wayne TinCaps Saturday night from Parkview Field at 7:05p.m. Lefty Trent Szkutnik starts for West Michigan against TinCaps southpaw Thomas Dorminy. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:55p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any 2016 Whitecaps home game by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.