West Michigan WhiteCaps at South Bend SilverHawks
April 16th, 2002
| West Michigan |
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1 |
1 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
0 |
0 |
0 |
|
|
2 |
8 |
2 |
| South Bend |
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|
1 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
0 |
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0 |
0 |
2 |
|
|
3 |
7 |
2 |
E-Rabelo, Kolodzey, Janz, Haydel, LOB WM-5, SB-12, 2B-Knoedler, Tejeda, Mattle 2, Haydel 2, HR-Gonzalez (Holsten), SB-Hairston, Barrett, CS-Lugo, HBP-Loeb, SACF-Hairston, SACB-Garcia
HB-Birtwell, WP-Holsten, SO-Gonzalez, Knoedler, Rabelo, Kolodzey 2, Yount, Garcia 2, Janz, Hairston 2, Nichols, Vugteveen, Lopez, Barrett, Haydel, BB-Gonzalez, Lugo, Hairston, Nichols, Loeb 2, Barrett 2
T-2:55, A-1,005
South Bend Tribune
by Forrest Miller
It had been a tough night for Kyle Nichols with the bat.
The Midwest League's No.6 hitter walked, struck out twice and popped up on the infield before it was hit turn in the bottom of the ninth with the winning run on second base.
He was facing a pitcher he had never seen before in West Michigan's Landon Stockman.
"I had been watching him in the bullpen, and noticed he was throwing all fast balls, he couldn't get his curve over the plate. After I swung through a 2-0 fastball I felt pretty sure he would throw me another. The odds were in my favor." Nichols said.
Nichols lined a 2-1 pitch into right centerfield, scoring Garcia with a run that gave South Bend a 3-2 victory Tuesday night in the opener of a four game series against the WhiteCaps at Coveleski Stadium.
The Hawks trailed, 2-1 coming to bat in the ninth. Rick Haydel dropped a double down the right field line. Garcia's bunt was fielded by Stockman, who threw too late to third as Haydel beat the play.
Jeramy Janz followed with a hit to score Haydel with the tying run. Scott Hairston popped out, but Nichols ended it.
"It was nice to get one like that especially after we left so many runners on base (10 through eight innings, four of them at third base with fewer than two outs)", SilverHawks manager Dick Schofield said.
Even though South Bend had runners on first and second with nobody out, Schofield didn't have Hairston bunt.
"He's batting No. 3 in the order, and if he gets to the big leagues, he's not going to be bunting in the ninth inning," Schofield said, "Even if he is succesful, they probably walk Nichols."
Winning pitcher Pete Sikaras was taking some ribbing in the dressing room. He faced only one batter in the top of the ninth, striking out Chris Kolodzey on four pitchers, and cashed in the South Bend rally in the bottom of the ninth for the victory.
"It was my first in the Midwest League, and I'll take it." Sikaras said, "I was here half a season last year and didn't get one."
Prior to Sikaras' arrival the Hawks received a strong performance from left reliever Heath Heiberger, who struck out three and allowed one hit in 2 2/3 innings.
"Heiberger was outstanding but we had a fresh bullpen and with two right handers coming up, we made the move to Sikaras." Schofield said
South Bend had only four hits through eight innings, two of them in the first by Garcia and Janz. Garcia scored on a fly ball by Hairston. A double by Haydel in the third and a single by Dustin Vugteveen in the fourth were the only other South Bend hits until the ninth.
West Michigan's Juan Gonzaelz led off the game with a home run against South Bend starter Ryan Holsten. The WhiteCaps scored again in the second on David Mattle's double and infield grounders by Kolodzey and Jeremy Brostrom, but had only four hits the rest of the way.
Juan Tejeda and Mattle had two hits each for the WhiteCaps.