Whitecaps Hold Steady, Best Loons 4-3

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (6-4) were down 3-0 entering the eighth, rallied to tie up the game but couldn’t hold off the West Michigan Whitecaps (4-6) in the ninth. The Whitecaps snapped their four-game losing streak and the Loons three-game winning streak, 4-3, on a windy 58-degree Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.

Great Lakes started the eighth with a hard-hit ball by Thayron Liranzo that was misplayed at first base. Dylan Campbell followed up with a single, his third hit of the night and seventh in his last nine at-bats. With runners on the corners and one-out, a Yunior Garcia groundout plated Liranzo. Jake Vogel up-next broke a 0-for-7 skid, with a bloop RBI single into centerfield, to pull within one.

Alex Freeland then got a fifth at-bat on the night and drove a ball to left-center field that saw a lack of defensive communication producing a game-tying RBI double. Freeland has a 1.321 OPS in six games played his season. The frame ended with a strikeout, and a runner left on. Great Lakes left nine on base from the fifth through the eighth inning.

West Michigan faced Michael Martinez in the ninth. With one out and a runner on first, Josh Crouch and Seth Stephenson worked walks to load the bases. With the bases loaded, Martinez missed the mark on the first pitch to Max Anderson, allowing the lead runner to score on a wild pitch. The Loons went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth.

The Whitecaps plated their first three runs early on. In the first inning, with two out, two on, and a 2-0 count, Roberto Campos delivered a two-run double to left field. Loons starter Jacob Meador sat down the next six he faced. He was done after 2.2 innings. Christian Suarez couldn’t end the third inning, permitting a walk and RBI double to Andrew Jenkins, that made it 3-0.

Great Lakes relievers Franklin De La Paz and Brandon Neeck combined for four innings, striking out seven. Five West Michigan pitchers punched out eight with no earned runs.

Rounding Things Out

Nine of the 24 games last season between West Michigan and Great Lakes were decided by one run, the most of any Loons opponent in 2023.

Up Next

The Loons and Whitecaps match up for game two of the six-game series tomorrow Wednesday, April 17th. The first pitch is at 6:05 p.m. It is a Paws & Claws night enjoy half-off White Claws and bring your pup to the park.

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.