Great Lakes tops West Michigan, 4-2
COMSTOCK PARK -- Seven of the Loons 10 hits came within the first two innings, allowing Great Lakes to jump out to an early lead that they would not relinquish, eventually winning 4-2 over the West Michigan Whitecaps Wednesday night at Fifth Third Ballpark.
Outfielder Nick Buss and Rafael Ynoa helped jump-start the Loons early success, hitting leadoff singles before advancing to second and third on a Blake Smith ground out. Facing two outs, Brian Cavazos-Galvez and Gorman Erickson both hit RBI singles to put the Loons on the board 2-0. In the second inning, the Loons tacked on another run when Ynoa’s grounder skipped past a drawn-in infield to score Chris Jacobs from third.
The Whitecaps cut the Loons lead to one run in the fifth inning as Avisail Garcia led off with a single and was driven home by Alexis Espinoza’s triple. Later in the inning, West Michigan outfielder Jamie Johnson hit single to right-center to score Espinoza. But that would be the last run for the Whitecaps.
In the ninth inning, the Loons added an insurance run when Brian Ruggiano popped a bloop-single down the right-field line to score Erickson, who reached first on a single and advanced to second on an Antonio Cruz wild pitch.
Loons starting pitcher Ryan Christenson fanned four Whitecaps and walked none en route to his first win as a Great Lakes pitcher, allowing two runs on four hits over five innings. Edwin Contreras came in to pitch three scoreless innings in relief to set up closer Luis Vasquez, who came in to strike out the side in the ninth inning, picking up his 18th save of the year.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Trevor Feeney (8-11, 3.34) was charged with the loss, surrendering three runs on eight hits over seven innings of work.
The Loons (73-34) play game three of four against the West Michigan Whitecaps on Thursday night, and will send RHP Josh Wall (7-4, 3.40) to face the Whitecaps southpaw Jared Wesson (3-1, 2.72). The Loons will return to Dow Diamond on Saturday, August 7.
The Great Lakes Loons are a fourth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.
