COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps got a boost from three top-10 Tigers prospects in a 10-0 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 5,011 fans Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Every Whitecaps batter recorded a hit as Spencer Torkelson finished 3-for-3 with a double and three runs scored, Daniel Cabrera went 2-for-3 with three RBIs, and Dillon Dingler hit 3-for-5 with a double and RBI in the win.
Meanwhile, ‘Caps starting pitcher Brendan White was equally impressive, tossing four scoreless one-hit innings while tallying a career-high seven strikeouts. White, along with pitchers Zac Shepherd and Chavez Fernander, combined to collect the ‘Caps third shutout of the 2021 season.
The Whitecaps scored first in the opening frame as Dingler pounded an RBI-single before Cabrera added to the lead with an RBI-double and a sacrifice fly to help deliver the ‘Caps a 4-0 advantage. Lansing managed only two base hits through the first six innings as West Michigan piled on six runs in the late innings. A Rey Rivera two-run single before Jose King’s three-run double in the seventh closed the book on the shutout victory.
Shepherd (4-0) pitched three innings allowing no runs on a pair of strikeouts in his team-best fourth victory in 2021. Loons starting pitcher Richard Guasch (1-2) lasted four innings, surrendering four runs on nine hits in his second loss on the season. The Whitecaps improve to 17-15 as the Lugnuts fall to 16-17. White has recorded 12 punchouts through his last six innings of work, compiling an impressive strikeout to walk ratio of 12:3 in June.
UP NEXT
This six-game series between the Whitecaps and Lugnuts plays its fourth game on Friday at 7:05 pm. West Michigan starts pitcher Chance Kirby to the mound against Reid Birlingmair for the Lugnuts. 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.
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