CEDAR RAPIDS, IA (WHTC AM/FM) – Down to their final strike, the West Michigan Whitecaps pulled off one of their most exciting victories of the season as part of a 3-2 victory over the Cedar Rapids Kernels Thursday night at Perfect Game Field.
The Whitecaps rallied in a most improbable fashion with a two-out, ninth-inning rally to erase a one-run deficit. A two-run single by Bryant Packard highlighted the come-from-behind victory while pitcher Elvis Alvarado navigated through the final two innings in relief to complete the stunning win.
The ballgame was another low-scoring contest, as the teams combined for six runs or less for the third straight game of the series. In the fourth, Will Holland punctuated a Cedar Rapids two-out rally with a two-run double to give the Kernels a 2-0 lead. In the seventh, the Whitecaps plated a run on what was scored as the second error of the night by Kernels second baseman Yunior Severino. Later in the frame, Jake Holton looked to tie the contest with the bases loaded and one out when he bounced a fly ball in front of Cedar Rapids right fielder Kyler Fedko, who fired the baseball to home plate to force out baserunner Jose King and preserve the Kernels lead.
In the ninth, King launched a deep drive into left-center field, only to see an incredible catch by center fielder Alerick Soularie rob King of extra bases for the first out. After a strikeout of Daniel Cabrera for the second out, the ‘Caps were down to their final strike before Eliezer Alfonzo singled, Jake Holton doubled, and Packard delivered the go-ahead two-run single. Meanwhile, Elvis Alvarado (2-1), who became the first Whitecaps pitcher to register a pitch at 100 mph during the eighth inning, recorded the final six outs to collect his second win.
Reliever Ryan Shreve (1-1) allowed two runs in the ninth inning in suffering his first loss of the season. Josh Crouch collected a pair of hits in the victory, while lefty Brant Hurter tossed five innings, allowing just two runs and striking out five in the Thursday night start. The Whitecaps record improves to 31-35 to conclude the first half of the Midwest League season, while Cedar Rapids falls to 43-23. The 3-2 victory is believed to be the first victory with a 3-2 final score the Whitecaps have posted in Cedar Rapids since September 21, 2015 when West Michigan defeated the Kernels in a deciding Game 5 to secure their sixth Midwest League Championship.
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Cedar Rapids Kernels Friday at 7:35 p.m.
(courtesy of West Michigan Whitecaps)
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