Pitching Leads Whitecaps to Series Sweep

MIDLAND, Mich. - On Sumo Wrestling night at Fifth Third Ballpark, the Great Lakes Loons offense struggled for the third straight night. The West Michigan Whitecaps defeated Great Lakes 6-1 and are now 10-0 against the Loons in 2018.  
The Loons (19-39) totaled just two runs on 16 hits while being swept in Comstock Park this week. West Michigan (31-28) has not lost to the Loons since August 12, 2017.
The combination of righties Brad Bass and Aaron Fernandez stifled the Loons bats on Thursday night. Bass (W, 4-4) allowed the lone run on six hits and a walk before Fernandez (S, 1) continued the dominance of the West Michigan bullpen in this series. In total, the 'Caps artillery threw nine innings of shutout baseball during the three-game set.  
West Michigan's offense is not to be overlooked in the midst of their dazzling pitching. Six Whitecaps tallied multi-hit games en route to a 15-hit performance as a team. Cole Peterson and Colby Bortles each had three hits. Peterson will be representing the Tigers organization in Lansing in two weeks in the Midwest League All-Star Game.
Of the 15 West Michigan hits, 13 were singles and six never left the infield.
A majority of the damage against the Loons gets placed on starter Leo Crawford's final line. Crawford (L, 0-2) gets strapped with four earned runs on nine hits. The game was tied 1-1 before the Whitecaps pushed three across in the 6th inning against the Nicaraguan lefty.
Great Lakes will be happy to return home for the start of a seven-game homestand on Friday night. The Lake County Captains will be in town for a four-game series beginning at 7:05 p.m. ET. Radio coverage on ESPN 100.9-FM dawns at 6:35. 
The Great Lakes Loons have been the 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.