LocalSportsJournal.com
PEORIA, IL – The West Michigan Whitecaps clobbered a season-high 19 base hits and got out of big jams when they needed it most as part of a 12-4 win over the Peoria Chiefs on Wednesday at Dozer Park.
The hit total surpasses the previous season-best of 18 hits collected in a 16-8 victory at Lake County on June 2. At least one run scored in all but one inning during the contest, which saw the two teams combine for 30 hits. In addition, 18 batters reached base by drawing either a walk or a hit by pitch.
Whitecaps infielder Austin Murr opened the scoring with a three-run double in the first inning to give West Michigan a 3-0 lead. Murr has collected eight hits in his last three games.
After the two teams traded single runs in the third, the ‘Caps tallied a run in the subsequent four frames, highlighted by run-scoring doubles from Murr and Jose King to extend the team to 7-1.
After the Chiefs scored a pair of runs in the seventh, King delivered another run with an RBI-Single.
After a Peoria run in the eighth, the Whitecaps put the ballgame out of reach with a four-run surge, highlighted by a run-scoring double by Bryant Packard and an RBI-Single from Trei Cruz to finish the scoring in the contest.
Every West Michigan position player had at least one base hit in the victory, and all reached base safely multiple times.
Detroit Tigers Top Prospect Ty Madden started and lasted three innings before the bullpen tossed the final six frames.
Gio Arriera (5-0) inherited the bases loaded with none out in the fourth and escaped without allowing a run with the help of a pickoff from catcher Cooper Johnson to end the frame. Arriera finished with two scoreless innings on the mound to earn his fifth win.
Chiefs starter Austin Love (3-7) allowed five runs in three innings, suffering his seventh loss of the 2022 campaign. The Whitecaps record improves to 28-31 while the Chiefs record drops to 25-34.
Packard enjoyed his first four-hit performance since June 20, 2021, scoring three times and driving in a run. Murr’s three-hit performance made him the third ‘Caps player this season with three extra-base hits in a single game. King went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBIs in the victory.
The ballgame lasted three hours and 32 minutes – marking West Michigan’s longest contest of the season.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps play the third game of this six-game series with the Peoria Chiefs from Dozer Park on Thursday at 7:35 pm. Pitchers Keider Montero and Logan Gragg get the starts for West Michigan and Peoria.
Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 7:20 pm. Get your tickets for all 2022 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
