The West Michigan Whitecaps beat the Fort Wayne TinCaps 3-2 in 10 innings Monday afternoon to clinch the final playoff spot in the Midwest League.
Anthony Pereira recorded the game-winning RBI with a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the 10th inning. It seemed like fate because he wasn't even supposed to play in the game.
Jordan Pearce was ejected from the game in the second inning for arguing balls and strikes and Pereira replaced him at first base.
The Whitecaps trailed 1-0 in the 7th inning when Joey Morgan grounded out to shortstop Kelvin Melean, but Reynaldo Rivera was able to score to tie the game, 1-1.
The game would go to extra innings tied at one and the TinCaps would once again take the lead. Wenceel Perez made a great play to rob Jack Suwinski of a base hit. The shortstop dove for a ground ball, fielded it cleanly, rose to his feet and threw Suwinski out at first, but Melean would score to give Fort Wayne a 2-1 lead.
In the bottom half of the inning Colby Bortles would send a line drive off the glove of TinCaps pitcher Evan Miller and Melean at second and the ball would land safely in center field for a base hit, scoring John Valente from third.
Pereira would be the hero, hitting a game-winning sacrifice fly to right field allowing Brady Policelli to slide home safely.
The Whitecaps will host the Great Lakes Loons Wednesday night at 7:05 in the first game of a best-of-three series. Games two will be played in Midland, as will game three if necessary.