‘Caps Wash Away Loons in 12-1 Win
MIDLAND, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps got home runs from Spencer Torkelson, Dane Myers, and a grand slam from Dillon Dingler as part of a 12-1 win over the Great Lakes Loons Thursday night at Dow Diamond. The win marks the third time the Whitecaps hit three home runs
MIDLAND, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps got home runs from Spencer Torkelson, Dane Myers, and a grand slam from Dillon Dingler as part of a 12-1 win over the Great Lakes Loons Thursday night at Dow Diamond.
The win marks the third time the Whitecaps hit three home runs in a ballgame this season, as the team has won 12 of their last 15 games.
WATCH: TORKELSON’S FOURTH HOMER
Torkelson set the tone for the evening in the first inning when he parked a 442-foot moonshot to centerfield as the Whitecaps took a 1-0 lead. After Leonel Valera tied the game with an RBI-triple in the bottom of the inning, the score remained the same until the fourth, when Dane Myers lifted an opposite-field homer to break the tie and give West Michigan a 2-1 edge. The ‘Caps enjoyed a three-run fifth highlighted by a run-scoring double by Dingler – his second double of the night – to extend the lead to 5-1.
In the sixth, the Loons loaded the bases with none out, but reliever Chavez Fernander entered the game and retired Great Lakes in-order without allowing a run to preserve the ‘Caps four-run lead. In the eighth, Dingler provided West Michigan its biggest swing of the night as he launched a 445-foot grand slam that left Dow Diamond on the fly for his seventh home run of the season to highlight one of the Whitecaps biggest offensive outbursts of the season.
On the mound, starting pitcher Keider Montero (2-3) tossed five scoreless innings for the second straight start while striking out six to earn his second victory in as many starts. Loons pitcher Austin Drury (2-1) takes his first loss while giving up two runs in 3.1 innings. The Whitecaps end Thursday enjoying first place all to themselves with a record of 16-10 while the Loons fall to 13-14. Dingler reached base four times in the victory and has reached safely 11 times in the first three games of this series. Eliezer Alfonzo also enjoyed his best game of the season, going 3-for-5 with three doubles and two runs scored.
UP NEXT
This series between the Whitecaps and Loons continues from Dow Diamond Friday at 7:05 pm. West Michigan’s starting pitcher is still to be determined, while the Loons send lefty Alec Gamboa to the mound. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2021 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.