Whitecaps Pitchers Outduel Loons

MIDLAND, Mich. – On Friday night at Dow Diamond, the Great Lakes Loons scored 12 runs on 10 hits against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

On Saturday night, the two teams combined for five runs and nine hits.

The pitchers’ duel went the way of the visitors as West Michigan comes away victorious, 3-2.

Through the first three innings, both teams had one hit total. The Whitecaps (48-41, 17-6 second half) broke the scoring in the fourth frame on a solo homer from Josh Crouch, his sixth of the year at the High-A level.

West Michigan, the Detroit Tigers’ High-A affiliate, extended their lead in the sixth inning. Corey Joyce doubled to lead off the inning, moved to third on a groundout, then scored on a wild pitch to double the Whitecaps’ advantage, 2-0.

For the Loons (54-35, 14-9), that ended the day for right-handed starter Nick Nastrini (L, 3-3), who takes a tough-luck loss despite earning a quality start. Nastrini surrendered just three hits and a walk in six innings of work, allowing two earned runs and striking out five.

On the other side, West Michigan had a tremendous start from its southpaw Brant Hurter (W, 4-0). The Georgia Tech lefty tossed five scoreless frames of one-hit, one-walk baseball, accumulating seven strikeouts along the way.

The Whitecaps added another run in the top of the seventh. After Ben Malgeri walked with two outs, Jose King doubled to give the visitors a 3-0 cushion.

Great Lakes, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, finally broke the scoreboard in the seventh frame, scoring one run without a hit. The Loons loaded the bases on walks before Kekai Rios drove in a run on a fly ball fielder’s choice to cut the Loons deficit to 3-1.

Loons righty reliever Braydon Fisher kept the Loons in the game with two late scoreless innings. The only baserunner against him reached on an error, and he struck out a pair in his two frames.

The ninth inning brought hope for the home fans, beginning with a one-out double from Jose Ramos. Immediately after, Imanol Vargas blasted a run-scoring double to bring the Loons within one run, 3-2, and the tying run stood on second with just one out.

But southpaw Andrew Magno (SV, 8) settled in, striking out the next two batters he faced to confirm the win for West Michigan.

The three-game series is even at one game apiece, and the Loons lead the season series over West Michigan, seven games to four. The finale of the set is Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond at 1:05 p.m., with pregame coverage on ESPN 100.9-FM beginning at 12:50 p.m. with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland.

At Dow Diamond, it’s Christmas in July, presented by Midland Center for the Arts: Santa will be on the concourse to get all those early Christmas wishes. As always on Sundays, kids eat free and run the bases postgame, presented by ESPN 100.9-FM. Tickets are still available on Loons.com.

The Great Lakes Loons have been a 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.