Whitecaps drop middle game to Great Lakes
MIDLAND, MI - Great Lakes Loons catcher Julian Leon drove in three runs with two singles and a double as they defeated the West Michigan Whitecaps 7-1 Wednesday night at Dow Diamond.
West Michigan scored first when designated hitter Joey Pankake scored on a wild pitch from Loons starter Brock Stewart. Great Lakes went on to score the games' next seven runs, beginning with RBI-singles by Leon in the third and fifth innings. The Loons plated their next two runs on a pair on wild pitches by Whitecaps reliever Josh Heddinger. Leon would add to his stellar night in the seventh with a run-scoring double into the left-field corner.
Great Lakes centerfielder Johan Mieses also had three hits in the contest, and has six hits over the first two games of this series.
Whitecaps starting pitcher Jeff Thompson (0-2) allowed four runs on nine hits over 4.1 innings in picking up his second loss of the season. Gabe Hemmer pitched 1.2 innings without allowing a run and striking out three.
SHUTDOWN STEWART
Loons starting pitcher Brock Stewart pitched well against the Whitecaps for the second time this season. Stewart allowed just a run over four innings Wednesday. In two games, Stewart has allowed just two runs in nine innings of work while striking out 11 batters against West Michigan.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Loons finish their three-game series Thursday at 2:05p.m. Detroit Tigers 2014 second-round pick Spencer Turnbull starts for the Whitecaps against L.A. Dodgers 2014 first-round selection Grant Holmes for Great Lakes. Radio coverage with Dan Hasty begins at 1:55p.m. on the Whitecaps Radio Network. Don't forget that season, group and individual tickets can be reserved for any 2015 home game by calling the Whitecaps' front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.