COMSTOCK PARK, MI (WHTC AM/FM) – Jake Holton’s walk-off single propelled the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 1-0 win past the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers 1-0 Tuesday night in front of 5,215 fans at LMCU Ballpark.
Whitecaps pitchers compiled 12 strikeouts without any walks or allowing a single runner to advance into scoring position as catcher Josh Crouch extended his hitting streak to nine games, accounting for the game-winning run in the slim victory.
The Whitecaps managed four baserunners through the first eight innings. Still, they couldn’t convert as Wisconsin starter and Brewers top-15 prospect Antoine Kelly didn’t allow a hit through three scoreless frames with three strikeouts before relievers Joey Matulovich and James Meeker posted five shutout frames with four punchouts in relief.
Meanwhile, Whitecaps starter Carlos Guzman tossed five scoreless frames with five strikeouts before Elvis Alvarado, Chavez Fernander, Andrew Shaps, and Jared Tobey followed with four shutout innings, wracking up seven strikeouts and keeping the game tied at 0-0. Crouch struck for a double in the ninth inning before Jake Holton scorched a single, scoring crouch and walking off the Timber Rattlers 1-0.
Tobey (1-2) picks up his first win of the season, striking out two Timber Rattlers hitters in a shutout ninth inning as Meeker (4-3) suffers his third loss, allowing the game-winning run in the ninth. The Whitecaps improve to 43-39 overall – tied for their best season mark – and 12-4 in the second half. Wisconsin falls to 44-37 and 11-5 in the second half.
The Whitecaps match their shortest nine-inning game of the 2022 season at just 1:59 – last done in a 7-3 win over Beloit at LMCU Ballpark back on May 10. The shutout is the eighth of its kind for West Michigan and second in their last four games.
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers Wednesday at 12:05 p.m. Lefty Matt Walker gets the start for the Whitecaps against Timber Rattlers righty Israel Puello.
(courtesy of West Michigan Whitecaps)
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