Records Set as Whitecaps TIE in 15 Innings
COMSTOCK PARK, MI -The West Michigan Whitecaps and Peoria Chiefs battled to a curfew shortened 15 inning, 9-9 tie on Friday night and Saturday morning in front of 6,641 fans at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Right hander Beau Burrows started for the Whitecaps and righty Darian Gonzalez countered for the Chiefs. Both pitchers would not last deep into the game, but Gonzalez proved effective, pitching three innings of one run baseball. Burrows surrendered an RBI single in the second inning off R.J. Dennard to give Peoria the early lead. The 'Caps would answer on a Rashad Brown RBI single to tie the score at 1-1. Peoria scored two more runs in their fourth inning, but West Michigan responded. A Will Allen single and a Brett Pirtle double brought home two runs and once again the game was deadlocked at 3-3. Burrows pitched 4.2 innings, allowing ten hits and three earned runs before departing. After Peoria touched Whitecaps reliever Toller Boardman for two runs in both the seventh and the eighth innings, the 'Caps once again showed their comeback prowess. In their seventh inning Will Maddox brought home a 'Caps run on an RBI double. Brett Pirtle followed with a hot grounder resulting in a Peoria fielding error and scoring Maddox. In the eighth, Rashad Brown doubled home Derek Hill and Will Maddox once again delivered with a ground out, scoring Brown and tying the game for the fourth time at 7-7 and sending the contest into extra innings. The game's scoring commenced in the tenth inning. Peoria answered with two runs off Whitecaps reliever Drew Smith to take a 9-7 lead. The 'Caps went to the well again and tied the game on Will Allen's two run single off Peoria reliever Steven De La Cruz.
No more scoring would commence after the tenth inning. Both teams used six pitchers, and both used a position player as pitcher to close out the marathon. The 'Caps would come back from deficits five times in the game, but never enjoyed a lead. The game officially finished as a tie after fifteen innings due to curfew regulations. The tie is due to both teams not meeting again in 2016 regular season. Will Maddox earned his first 5-hit game of the year for West Michigan as part of their 22 hit attack. Derek Hill also produced with a four hit performance and Rashad Brown had three. Allen and Pirtle contributed two hits each as well as Leo Laffita. The 'Caps would accumulate seven extra base hits-all doubles in the first tie in franchise history.
RECORDS
The six hour two minute game represents the longest game, time-wise, the Whitecaps have ever played and broke their five game losing streak in extra innings games in 2016. The 48 combined hits between the two teams broke the all-time record for hits in a Midwest League game.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue their home stand on Saturday night as they host the Burlington Bees for three games. First pitch commences at 7pm. Right hander Fernando Perez (3-4 4.99) makes the start for the Whitecaps and Burlington sends righty Luis Pena (2-5 3.32) to the mound. Tickets for the series can be purchased by calling 616-784-4131 or ordering online at whitecapsbaseball.com.
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