Whitecaps romp past Nuts, 14-5

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Behind a relentless 17-hit attack, the West Michigan Whitecaps (17-11) outpaced the Lansing Lugnuts (13-14), 14-5, in the opener of a six-game series on Tuesday night at LMCU Ballpark.

The Whitecaps scored three runs in the second inning and added a solo home run from Eliezer Alfonzo in the third inning against Lugnuts starter Jack Perkins, then tallied two runs in the fourth against Kumar Nambiar, two in the fifth and three in the sixth against Brock Whittlesey, and closed things out with three runs in the eighth against Hunter Breault. Curiously, the Lugnuts did turn double plays in each of the Whitecaps’ final four at-bats.

Meanwhile, Lansing’s only offense came in the eighth inning against West Michigan relievers Jack Anderson and Chavez Fernander, putting together a five-run rally behind RBI singles from Max Muncy, Danny Bautista, Jr., and CJ Rodriguez, a run-scoring wild pitch, and a Sahid Valenzuela sacrifice fly.

In defeat, Jack Winkler and Daniel Susac finished an identical 1-for-4 with a single and a walk to extend their on-base streaks to 12 and 10 games respectively. Second baseman Euribiel Ángeles went 2-for-4 with a double, giving him five doubles in his last six games. Ángeles is hitting .381 (8-for-21) during that span, raising his average from .189 to .243.

In the second game of the six-game series on Wednesday, southpaw Brady Basso makes his second start since returning from Tommy John surgery. West Michigan counters with right-hander Williander Moreno, with first pitch set for 6:35 p.m.

The Lugnuts play the Whitecaps through Sunday before returning home from May 16-21 against Lake County. For more information, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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