COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps got a lift from prized Detroit Tigers prospect Spencer Torkelson as fireworks flew literally and figuratively in a 17-5 victory over the Lake County Captains in front of a sellout crowd Saturday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Torkelson blasted a pair of three-run home runs as he, Eric De La Rosa, and Daniel Cabrera combined for 12 of the ‘Caps 15 RBIs in the route of Lake County.
WATCH: TORKELSON’S THREE-RUN TANKS
The Captains jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the top of the second before the ‘Caps responded with four runs – highlighted by a three-run double off the bat of De La Rosa – moving in front 4-2. Lake County took back the lead in the fifth as Whitecaps reliever Sam Kessler allowed the go-ahead run to cross on a bases-loaded walk before Mike Amditis flew out to end the frame, 5-4. The Whitecaps never looked back, piling on 13 unanswered runs – spotlighted by Torkelson’s two homers and a bases-clearing double by Cabrera to close the book on the 17-5 victory and send the LMCU Ballpark faithful home happy.
Whitecaps reliever Brendan White (1-0) tossed 2.1 shutout innings while striking out a pair in his first win on the season. Captains relief arm Tim Herrin (1-1) went 2.1 frames giving up five earned runs while walking a pair in his first loss of the 2021 campaign. The Whitecaps improve to 13-9 on the season while the Captains fall to 11-12. With the win, the Whitecaps move into first place in the High-A Central East Division. This performance marks only the third time in team history that the Whitecaps scored 17-or-more runs in a single game. With a win on Sunday, the Whitecaps would become the first team in the High-A Central to sweep a six-game series this season.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Captains finish this six-game series at LMCU Ballpark Sunday at 2:00 pm. West Michigan sends Chance Kirby the mound against Captains righty Mason Hickman. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 1:45 pm. A limited number of tickets are available for select Whitecaps 2021 home contests by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.