COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Detroit Tigers top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Dillon Dingler propelled the West Michigan Whitecaps to a 9-4 comeback win over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 4,175 delighted fans Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.
The Whitecaps offense put on a show, spearheaded by Dingler and Torkelson, who finished a combined 4-for-7 with three runs scored and six RBIs, including back-to-back home runs in the win.
A pair of Whitecaps errors allowed two Lugnuts runners to cross the plate in the first inning before a solo home run off the bat of Lazaro Armenteros delivered Lansing an early 3-0 advantage. The ‘Caps cut into the ‘Nuts lead in the fourth, tallying a run before the Lugnuts added an insurance run in the top of the fifth to maintain the 4-1 edge. The Whitecaps began their comeback push in the fifth, scoring a pair before piling on six runs in the sixth – highlighted by a three-run homer from Torkelson before Dingler followed with a solo fly – putting an exclamation point on the comeback victory.
Whitecaps starter Chance Kirby (3-2) tossed six innings, allowing four runs to cross while punching out five Lugnuts hitters in his third win of the year. Charles Hall (1-1) lasted only a third of an inning, surrendering four runs on two hits in his first defeat of the 2021 campaign. The Whitecaps improve to 18-15 as the Lugnuts fall to 16-18. Torkelson has reached base in his last eight recorded trips to the plate, compiling a staggering .578 OBP with six doubles, two home runs, and a walk-to-strikeout ratio of 9:6 in June.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Lugnuts play the fifth game of this six-game set Saturday at 7:05 pm. West Michigan starts pitcher Beau Brieske to the mound against Colin Peluse 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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