Wrobleski’s Six Innings Curbs Whitecaps 2-1

Comstock Park, Mich.– The Great Lakes Loons (43-20) opened their series against the West Michigan Whitecaps (32-31) with six innings from starter Justin Wrobleski and a 2-1 win on an 89-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark.

With two games remaining in the first half of the season, if Great Lakes wins just one more game they will play their best half of baseball in franchise history.

Wrobleski is the second Loons starter to complete six innings in a start this season. The left-hander permitted back-to-back hits in the first, the second an RBI double from the reigning Midwest League player of the week Brady Allen. The Dodgers 29th ranked prospect per MLB.com, then retired the next five in a row.

Over six innings, the southpaw allowed five hits, but never more than one baserunner in an inning. Wrobleski struck out five Whitecaps and threw 77 pitches, 56 strikes.

Great Lakes offensively accumulated eight hits in total. They scored both of their runs, unearned in the top of the third. Jake Vogel led off the inning with a single. Chris Newell followed that up with a ground ball to first that was bobbled by the first baseman. After a recovery, the underhand flip to the pitcher covering the base, saw the ball drop.

With one out, Yeiner Fernandez chopped a ball to third that was thrown wide of second base and into right field by West Michigan’s Izaac Pacheco. It scored Vogel from second base. Alex Freeland next-up skied a ball to centerfield that plated Newell from third. Freeland has 40 RBI, the leader on the Loons and fifth most in the Midwest League.

In the final three innings, the Whitecaps left three runners on. Franklin De La Paz worked around trouble in the seventh. After a leadoff walk, De La Paz induced a double play. Dillion Paulson of the Whitecaps smacked a double, the second and final extra-base hit for West Michigan. A walk put two on, but a flyout to centerfield ended the inning.

Mitchell Tyranski tossed a clean eighth inning. After a two-out single from Roberto Campos, Eliezer Alfonso struck a ball toward right field. Ranging back Taylor Young, stopped it in shallow right field and threw it to second base. Alex Freeland applied the tag on Campos who took a turn towards third and couldn’t get back in time.

Benony Robles entered in the ninth and finished the Whitecaps in order. His third straight save.

Great Lakes and West Michigan face off in game two tomorrow Wednesday, June 21st, first pitch is at 6:35 p.m.

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.