Friday, July 21, 2006

Whitecaps- Eighth inning rally trumps blown lead in Whitecaps win


Whitecaps pitcher Burke Badenhop. Burke pitched his heart out only to have Claggett steal the win.

COMSTOCK PARK – Mark Haske and Jeramy Laster delivered back-to-back two out RBI’s in the bottom of the eighth inning as the Whitecaps broke a 2-2 tie on the way to a 4-2 victory over Dayton.

Burke Badenhop pitched 6.2 innings for West Michigan and left the game with a 2-0 lead, a runner at first and two out in the top of the seventh. Anthony Claggett came on in relief and for the second time in eight days blew a save.

Claggett allowed an RBI double by Craig Tatum and a game-tying single by Bobby Mosby. The right hander has allowed three runs since last Wednesday after allowing two runs total in the first 13 weeks of the season.

Cameron Maybin scored two of the Whitecaps runs, including the tally that put the Whitecaps in front in the eighth.

Claggett wound up earning the win and Orlando Perdomo picked up his 21st save for the Whitecaps, even though he allowed Dayton to load the bases with one out in the ninth.

Here is catcher Dusty Ryan. The Tigers have drafted some great catchers in the past few years- it will be interesting to see who makes it to the bigs. I'm still rooting for Mike Rabelo (who just made the jump to Toledo- go Mike!), although Ryan has great potential, too.