COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. (June 21, 2014) — Raph Rhymes had an up-and-down day, or maybe it was more down-and-up.
Rhymes fell down in the outfield in the seventh inning of the first game of today’s doubleheader between the Whitecaps and TinCaps and then knocked in the game-winning run in the 11th inning of the second game.
The Whitecaps saw their home-winning streak snapped at ten games when they fell in the first game of their doubleheader with Fort Wayne 5-4. The Whitecaps led 4-3 going into the seventh and final inning of game one, but the TinCaps took a 5-4 lead with three consecutive two-out hits.
Fernando Perez had the last hit that scored two runs, when he hit a soft-liner to left field. Rhymes seemed to be tracking the ball immediately when he lost his footing and fell to the ground, allowing the ball to go to the wall and both runners on base to score. West Michigan was unable to score in the bottom of the seventh.
But it was Rhymes who would have the last laugh. In the 11th inning of the second game with the score tied 5-5, Rhymes hit a grounder up the middle through a drawn-in infield to score Javier Betancourt to give the Whitecaps a 6-5 win.
The two teams will wrap up a four-game series tomorrow at Fifth Third Ballpark. Austin Kubitza (6-0) will start for the Whitecaps. First pitch is scheduled for 1:00 p.m.
