COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Danny Pinero's walk-off RBI double helped the West Michigan Whitecaps post a thrilling come-from-behind 10-inning victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels by a score of 3-2 in front of 7,222 fans Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.Tweet from @wmwhitecaps: WATCH: A walk-off hit from Danny Pinero
COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Danny Pinero's walk-off RBI double helped the West Michigan Whitecaps post a thrilling come-from-behind 10-inning victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels by a score of 3-2 in front of 7,222 fans Thursday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
The game was a pitcher's duel through the first seven innings, as the 'Caps were only able to muster a single run in the fifth when Danny Woodrow drew a bases-loaded walk to break a scoreless tie. In the sixth, Kernels shortstop Gorge Munoz blasted his second home run of the season, a solo shot to tie the game at one. Later in the frame, Pinero committed a fielding error at first base that led to a sacrifice fly by Lewin Diaz to give the Kernels a 2-1 lead. Two innings later, a two-out RBI-single by Zac Shepherd in the eighth helped the 'Caps tie the game at two.
In the tenth, Austin Athmann reached on a fielding error by Munoz with one out before Pinero sent a line drive to the video board in left-center field. Athmann's slide at home plate went around the tag of Kernels catcher Ben Rortvedt, helping the 'Caps earn a walk-off 3-2 victory, and improve the 'Caps record in extra innings to 10-2.
John Schreiber (4-1) struck out four in two dominant innings of scoreless relief to earn his fourth victory, while Hector Lujan (3-1) dropped his first game of the season by allowing Pinero's double. West Michigan improved their second half record to 15-5, and 60-27 overall. The Whitecaps now stand a season-best 33 games over .500. Cedar Rapids dropped their second half record under the break-even mark to 10-11 and 49-42 overall in 2017. Pinero, Chad Sedio, David Gonzalez and Cole Bauml - who extended his hitting streak to 11 games in the win - each tallied a pair of hits for West Michigan.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps wrap up this three-game series Friday night against the Cedar Rapids Kernels at 7:00p.m. Pitcher Greg Soto gets the start for West Michigan against Kernels ace Clark Beeker. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Mike Coleman begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any Whitecaps 2017 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
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