Pepinillos Picantes Put 12-Spot on West Michigan

Loons score 12 runs on 10 hits, just three for extra bases

By Noah Wolf

July 22, 2022

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons returned home to Dow Diamond after nearly three weeks without a home game. Friday night, it was home sweet home. The Loons, playing as their alternate identity Los Pepinillos Picantes del Norte, exploded for 12 runs in an emphatic defeat of the West

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons returned home to Dow Diamond after nearly three weeks without a home game.

Friday night, it was home sweet home.

The Loons, playing as their alternate identity Los Pepinillos Picantes del Norte, exploded for 12 runs in an emphatic defeat of the West Michigan Whitecaps, 12-2.

West Michigan (47-41, 16-6 second half) kicked off the scoring in the first inning. After a one-out walk and a pair of Ryan Kreidler stolen bases, Austin Murr scored him with an RBI double to put the Whitecaps ahead, 1-0.

The Loons (54-34, 14-8 second half) responded in the second frame with four runs. Alex De Jesus led off the frame with a single, followed by a hit by pitch of Jose Ramos, who was replaced at first by Ismael Alcantara. Imanol Vargas singled to load the bases, then Great Lakes had three straight run-scoring at-bats: an Aldrich De Jongh single, a Harold Restituyo groundout, and a two-run single from Kekai Rios. The Loons took a 4-1 lead into the third.

All that damage was done against righty starter Keider Montero (L, 5-5), who allowed five hits over four innings and four earned runs. He did not walk a batter and struck out one.

The Whitecaps, High-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, got their second and final run in the fourth inning on a solo home run from Ben Malgeri, his third of the season, to cut their deficit to 4-2.

Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A partner, shut down West Michigan after that. Ben Harris (W, 1-0) tossed two perfect innings in relief, followed by a scoreless inning each from Cole Percival, Julian Smith, and Aldry Acosta. The four of them combined for nine strikeouts and no walks in the final five frames.

At the same time, the Loons lit up the scoreboard on offense. After an Eddys Leonard double, Diego Cartaya blasted a two-run homer in the fifth inning.

Leonard and Cartaya picked up a pair of RBIs in the next two innings; Jorbit Vivas drove one in in the sixth and De Jesus did in the seventh. De Jongh, Restituyo and Rios all scored in both the sixth and seventh in back-to-back three-run frames to give the Loons their final 12-2 margin.

The Loons now lead the season series over West Michigan, seven games to three, as the three-game series continues Saturday night at Dow Diamond. West Michigan starts lefty Brant Hurter (3-0, 2.79 ERA), opposing Great Lakes righty Nick Nastrini (3-2, 4.33 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m., with ESPN 100.9-FM pregame coverage beginning at 6:50 p.m. with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland.

It’s a jam-packed night at Dow Diamond, with an appearance from Captain Marvel as part of the Loons’ Marvel Super Hero series, presented by MyMichigan Health. It’s also Terry Collins Night: the Loons honor the Midland native and National League pennant-winning manager by unveiling Collins’ Corner before the game. At the end of the night, watch the Loons light up the sky with a Fireworks Loontacular, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan. Tickets are still available at 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.