LANSING, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed 27 batters reaching base safely – one for every out in a nine-inning baseball game as Roberto Campos led the charge with his first High-A home run in a 14-6 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts on Friday night at Jackson Field.
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LANSING, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed 27 batters reaching base safely – one for every out in a nine-inning baseball game as Roberto Campos led the charge with his first High-A home run in a 14-6 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts on Friday night at Jackson Field.
Campos, the Detroit Tigers No. 14 Prospect by MLB Pipeline, gave the ‘Caps a lead they’d never relinquish with his first longball in a West Michigan uniform – a two-run shot – to take a 3-2 lead in the third inning. The 19-year-old outfielder enjoyed his first multi-hit performance as a Whitecap by going 3-for-6 and finishing a triple shy of hitting for the cycle in the victory.
After scoring four runs in the third, West Michigan entered the fourth inning with a 5-4 lead. Again, Campos opened the floodgates with an RBI-double to spark a six-run frame. Bases-loaded walks to Izaac Pacheco and Austin Murr combined with a run-scoring single from Carlos Mendoza gave West Michigan an 11-4 lead through just four innings. In the seventh, Pacheco blasted his second home run in as many days – a solo shot and his fourth homer in six career games at Jackson Field. Jonny Butler cranked a two-run homer in the second inning or the Lugnuts in a losing cause.
The Whitecaps increase their lead in first place in the Eastern Division at 6-1 – their best start to a season since 2018, while the Lugnuts fall to 4-3. ‘Caps reliever Erick Pinales (1-0) tossed two scoreless frames out of the bullpen to collect his first win in a ‘Caps uniform. Infielder Jace Jung went 1-for-2 with a double, three runs scored, and four walks in a victory that lasted a 2023 season-high three hours and 11 minutes. West Michigan drew a season-best 12 walks while only striking out five times in the contest.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps play the penultimate game of this six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts on Saturday at 6:05 pm. Pitcher Garrett Burhenn makes his first start of the year against Lugnuts righty and former University of Michigan standout Blake Beers. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 5:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2023 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.