Alcantara’s Home Run Gives Great Lakes Walkoff Win

Midland, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (24-13) trailed the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-16), 2-0 entering the bottom of the ninth. After two walks, Ismael Alcantara stepped up as the potential winning run and belted a 1-2 pitch over the right field wall to win the game 3-2 on a 68-degree overcast Friday night at Dow Diamond.

Great Lakes has won three in a row and maintain a three-game lead in the Midwest League East Division.

Ben Casparius, the Loons starter, struck out six batters through the first three innings. The right-hander allowed a baserunner in each, including two walks to begin the game but escaped trouble. The Whitecaps produced in the fourth.

After a leadoff walk from Danny Serretti, the third issued by Casparius, Austin Murr singled to put runners on the corners. A fielder’s choice from Carlos Mendoza drove home Serretti, Mendoza then scored from first after a Luis Garcia double down the left-field line. The Whitecaps' eight and nine hitters drove in their two runs.

Michael Hobbs finished the fourth for Casparius, and worked 2.1 innings scoreless, gaining four strikeouts. The right-hander stranded runners on the corners, in the sixth.

The Loons' offense ran into a strong start from Garrett Burhenn. The Tigers 2021 Ninth Round selection navigated through five innings, without much strain, striking out seven. He had 11 strikeouts through his first 23.2 innings before tonight.

Great Lakes bullpen held the score at 2-0 through the final three innings. Mitchell Tyranski, Carlos De Los Santos, and Benony Robles all worked 1-2-3 innings.

Ismael Alcantara led off the eighth with a bloop single to right field, followed by a Jake Vogel base knock. A groundout put the runners in scoring position, and a hit by pitch of Frank Rodriguez loaded the bases. West Michigan’s Chavez Fernander struck out the next two, the first two in the Loons order.

The Whitecaps elected to pitch Trevin Michael for the ninth. He walked Damon Keith and Chris Alleyne. Keith battled from a 1-2 count, while Alleyne walked on five pitches. Alcantara, who struck out against Michael on Tuesday to end the game, delivered in his second chance with the walk-off home run.

Game Five of the series is tomorrow Saturday, May 20th, with a 6:05 first pitch. Saturday is Loons Reading Program Day brought to you by Delta College.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.