Great Lakes Pitching and Newell’s HR Lifts Loons Past Whitecaps 3-1

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (27-22) snapped a three-game losing streak with a steady pitching performance and early offensive flurry to chop the West Michigan Whitecaps (25-24) 3-1 on a 78-degree clear and sunny Friday night at sold-out LMCU Ballpark.

Jerming Rosario delivered a third straight five-inning outing, this time scoreless. The right-hander permitted just four baserunners. A strikeout and double play groundout pushed him past a leadoff single in the second. A one-pitch flyout from Luke Gold and a six-pitch strikeout of Luis Santana was the bounce back after a third inning walk. Rosario struck out four.

Great Lakes provided run support. After the first four were retired, four straight Loons singled, all to right field. Kyle Nevin ripped a 1-2 pitch opposite field, followed by a Sam Mongelli single. After fouling off three pitches, Yunior Garcia started the scoring with an RBI single, winning an eight-pitch battle. Nelson Quiroz, next up, attacked the first pitch to make it 2-0.

Although he stranded two, 32 pitches in the frame curtailed Colin Fields' day. Great Lakes added another in the third. Chris Newell facing Chris Mauloni, rocketed a solo shot to deep right-center field. His 15th home run of the season, now with a five-homer lead atop the Midwest League. It now marks six straight series with a Newell homer.

In the final four frames, four different Loons’ relievers tossed an inning. Livan Reinoso retired three straight following a leadoff walk. Brandon Neeck allowed a double and walk but induced a line drive right to his defense. A Noah Miller catch and throw to Sam Mongelli to double up a Whitecap off second base.

West Michigan’s Josh Crouch led off the eighth with a solo blast over the right field fence. Kelvin Bautista bounced back with a punchout and two groundouts of 1-3 in the Whitecaps lineup.

Lucas Wepf took the ninth and earned his sixth save in his eighth attempt. Two of the first three West Michigan batters reached to put two on with one out. Peyton Graham smoked a line drive to the left-field warning track, where Yunior Garcia tracked it down with a jump and a catch for the second out. Wepf struck out Danny Serretti to close the contest.

Rounding Things Out

Lucas Wepf struck out five in two scoreless innings on Wednesday. It now is six straight innings without an earned run, where the right-hander has sat down ten on strikes.

Up Next

Tomorrow Saturday, June 1st, the Loons and Whitecaps square off. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons have been 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 Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.