PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. -- The West Michigan Whitecaps will start a six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts on Tuesday night at 6:05.
On Saturday afternoon, the Great Lakes Loons posted four runs in the third inning off Rayner Castillo, who absorbed the loss.
In near-ideal weather conditions, Whitecaps catcher Hunter Dobbins blasted a two-run homerun and Garrett Pennington also went yard for the home team.
Here are more details from Saturday's and Sunday's game from Whitecaps news releases:
Sunday's game:
The West Michigan Whitecaps weathered a late offensive push from the Great Lakes Loons, while ‘Caps outfielder Andrew Sojka delivered the biggest swing in his debut in a 4–3 win Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
The Loons brought the potential go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth, but Whitecaps pitching proved too much to overcome, holding Great Lakes to just 2-for-6 with runners in scoring position while recording 10 strikeouts. Meanwhile, Andrew Sojka delivered a go-ahead two-run single in his LMCU Ballpark debut, helping West Michigan rally to the 4–3 victory.
Great Lakes opened the scoring in the second inning, as third baseman Eduardo Guerrero plated Cameron Decker with an RBI single to take a 1–0 lead. Meanwhile, Whitecaps starting pitcher Gabriel Reyes worked around early trouble in the first two frames, stranding four Loons baserunners. In the fourth inning, Sojka’s two-run single highlighted a three-run frame for West Michigan before two throwing errors by Loons infielders led to a fourth run, giving the ‘Caps a 4–1 advantage. In the ninth inning, Great Lakes plated a pair on a two-run single from catcher Jesus Galiz, but the rally fell short as Whitecaps closer Zack Lee induced a flyout from Loons infielder Jose Izarra to secure the 4–3 win.
The Whitecaps improve to 4–5, while the Loons fall to 6–3. Whitecaps reliever Seth Chavez (1–0) picked up his first win in his debut with West Michigan, tossing two scoreless innings with a strikeout, while closer Zack Lee earned his first save, allowing two runs (one earned) over two innings pitched. Meanwhile, Great Lakes starter Christian Zazueta (0–1) suffered his first loss, allowing three runs over 3.2 innings pitched. The four combined errors between the Loons and the Whitecaps are the most in a single game for either team so far this season.
UP NEXT
The ‘Caps hit the road to start a six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts beginning on Tuesday at 6:05pm. Pitchers Carlos Marcano and Steven Echavarria get the starts for West Michigan and Lansing.
Saturday's game:
Great Lakes got on the board in the first inning on an RBI single from Jose Meza before Whitecaps outfielder Roberto Campos responded with an RBI single, tying the game at one. The Loons then rallied for four runs in the third, highlighted by a solo home run from shortstop Jose Izarra before catcher Victor Rodrigues followed with a two-run single to take a 5–1 lead. The Loons added three insurance runs across the fifth and sixth innings, featuring a two-run double from infielder Cameron Decker, extending the lead to 8–1. West Michigan chipped away with three runs across the seventh and eighth innings, as both Dobbins and Pennington went deep, but it was too late, as the Whitecaps dropped their third straight game.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Rayner Castillo (0–2) suffered his second loss, allowing five runs over 2.1 innings pitched, while Loons reliever Dilan Figueredo (1–0) picked up his first win, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings with a pair of strikeouts. The Whitecaps suffered their third straight loss for the first time since dropping three consecutive games against the Lake County Captains at LMCU Ballpark from June 6–8 last season.
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