Whitecaps romp past Lugnuts, 16-1

COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - The West Michigan Whitecaps (3-0, 48-22) continued their mastery of the Lansing Lugnuts (0-3, 37-32), delivering a 16-1 rout on Saturday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.

A year after losing 11 of 15 meetings between the two teams, the Whitecaps improved to 7-1 against the Lugnuts in the season series.

Anthony Pereira was 4-for-5 with four runs scored and David Gonzalez went 3-for-3 with a walk and four runs scored to lead the 'Caps offense.

Lansing starter Osman Gutierrez (Loss, 1-6) pitched 2/3 of an inning, departing after walking six of eight batters faced and allowing five runs.

The 'Caps added two runs in the second inning and one in the fourth against Geno Encina , expanding their lead to 8-0.

The Lugnuts scored their only run in the fifth, with a Ridge Smith sacrifice fly bringing in Vladimir Guerrero, Jr.

West Michigan put the game away with three runs in the seventh and five more in the eighth.

The final out of the eighth inning was recorded by Nick Sinay , an outfielder who began the game as the designated hitter before being brought in to relieve Nick Hartman . Sinay gave up a Josh Lester RBI single and an Austin Athmann two-run double before coaxing a grounder to short from Cole Bauml.

In the loss, Yeltsin Gudino went 2-for-3 with a single and a double to extend his hitting streak to eight games.

Lansing looks to avoid the four-game sweep in the Sunday series finale at 1 p.m., with right-hander Andy Ravel (4-1, 7.95) taking on Whitecaps right-hander Tom de Blok (0-0, 1.62).

The next Lugnuts' home game is a Dog Days of Summer at 7:05 p.m. Monday, June 26th, beginning a four-game homestand against the Bowling Green Hot Rods. Tickets may be purchased at the Cooley Law School Stadium box office, by calling (517) 485-4500 or via lansinglugnuts.com.
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