COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Brady Allen’s go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning kept the West Michigan Whitecaps postseason hopes alive as part of a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Great Lakes Loons in front of 5,005 fans Wednesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Despite finishing just 1-for-10 with runners in
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Brady Allen’s go-ahead two-run homer in the seventh inning kept the West Michigan Whitecaps postseason hopes alive as part of a 6-5 come-from-behind victory over the Great Lakes Loons in front of 5,005 fans Wednesday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Despite finishing just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, Allen and Gage Workman delivered a pair of two-run homers in the comeback victory. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps benefited from strong relief pitching as Jack Anderson, Elvis Alvarado, and Trevin Michael tossed three scoreless frames with three strikeouts to slam the door. Meanwhile, the Fort Wayne TinCaps rallied to defeat the Dayton Dragons on Wednesday, keeping the Whitecaps a half-game out of first place in the Midwest League Eastern Division with four games remaining.
The Loons and Whitecaps both struck for a run in the third inning as Griffin Lockwood-Powell lifted a sacrifice fly before ‘Caps outfielder Brady Allen collected an RBI double, finishing the third tied at 1-1. The ‘Caps inched in front in the fourth with an RBI from Josh Crouch, but it was short-lived, as Dodgers #1 prospect Dalton Rushing added a two-run homer in the fifth to put the Loons back in front 3-2. Great Lakes added a pair of insurance runs in the following frame as Kenneth Betancourt struck for an RBI double before Damon Keith lifted a sacrifice fly, extending the lead to 5-2. West Michigan began their comeback in the bottom of the sixth as Workman added a two-run blast, ending 10.1 consecutive scoreless innings for Loons reliever Ronan Kopp and cutting the lead to 5-4. Allen continued the rally in the seventh, as his two-run home run put the ‘Caps in front 6-5 as relievers Anderson, Alvarado, and Michael allowed just one hit through the final three frames to conclude the 6-5 win.
The Whitecaps improve to 66-60 overall, ensuring a second straight winning season, and 34-27 in the second half, while the Loons fall to 74-53 and 29-33 in the second half. Anderson (1-1) gets his first win of the season as Michael secures his fourth save. Meanwhile, Loons reliever Juan Morillo (0-2) suffers his second loss, allowing two runs in just an inning pitched. The Whitecaps are on pace to average more fans this season than any other since 2004.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps move this season-ending six-game series against the Great Lakes Loons at LMCU Ballpark to Thursday at 6:35 p.m. Righties Troy Melton and Jerming Rosario get the starts for West Michigan and Great Lakes. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 p.m. Get your tickets for all 2023 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.