COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed dominant starting pitching but couldn’t hold a two-run lead in the late innings, falling to the Lansing Lugnuts 3-2 in front of 7,318 fans Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
‘Caps starter Carlos Guzman had his best start of the season, allowing
COMSTOCK PARK, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps enjoyed dominant starting pitching but couldn’t hold a two-run lead in the late innings, falling to the Lansing Lugnuts 3-2 in front of 7,318 fans Sunday afternoon at LMCU Ballpark.
‘Caps starter Carlos Guzman had his best start of the season, allowing just one hit through five shutout innings while striking out four batters. Meanwhile, the Whitecaps managed only two baserunners in the final four innings, finishing just 2-for-7 with runners in scoring position in the narrow defeat.
Guzman allowed three baserunners through five innings, as Cooper Johnson and Carlos Irigoyen roped back-to-back RBI-Singles in the fifth, putting the ‘Caps on top 2-0. Lugnuts bullpen arms Brock Whittlesey and Kumar Nambiar shut West Michigan down through the seventh and eighth frames, keeping the game locked at 2-0. The Lugnuts responded in the eighth inning, as Sahid Valenzuela lined a run-scoring single before Jonny Bulter lifted a sacrifice fly, knotting the game at 2-2. Whitecaps closer Elvis Alvarado struck out the first two batters in the ninth before Lawrence Butler cracked a triple and scored on an infield single from outfielder Lazaro Armenteros, forging Lansing in front 3-2. The Whitecaps provided little resistance in the bottom of the ninth, as Lugnuts closer Angello Infante retired the side to secure the save and the slim victory.
Nambiar (3-1) picks up his third win of the season, pitching a shutout eighth inning as Infante collects his sixth save. Alvarado (1-1) suffers his first loss, allowing just one run while striking out two Lugnuts hitters. Guzman has allowed just one run through his last 15 innings pitched, walking five hitters while collecting ten strikeouts. The Lugnuts improve to 22-35, achieving a series split with the Sunday win as the Whitecaps fall to 26-31.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps travel to Peoria for a six-game series with the Peoria Chiefs at Dozer Park beginning Tuesday night at 7:05 pm. Pitcher Dylan Smith, a Detroit Tigers Top-10 Prospect, looks to earn his fifth straight victory. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2022 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.