COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Eric De La Rosa played the hero as the West Michigan Whitecaps rallied to defeat the Lansing Lugnuts 6-5 Friday night at LMCU Ballpark.
De La Rosa finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and a three-run triple, tying Parker Meadows and Daniel Cabrera for the longest hitting streak by any Whitecap this season at ten games. West Michigan drew ten walks in the victory – and six as part of a five-run sixth inning.
The Whitecaps jumped on the board first as Jimmy Kerr Pounded an RBI double in the second inning to put West Michigan out in front 1-0. Lansing responded in the third as Drew Millas plated Lazaro Armenteros before adding his second RBI on a sacrifice fly to put the Lugnuts out in front 2-1. A bases-loaded walk in the sixth tied the game at 2-2 before De La Rosa roped a three-run triple, forging the ‘Caps back in front 6-2. Lansing slimmed the Whitecaps lead to 6-5 in the third as Michael Guldberg smoked a two-run homer, but it wasn’t enough as ‘Caps closer Zack Hess slammed the door in the ninth to send West Michigan on to victory.
Whitecaps reliever Zac Houston (1-0) struck out the side in the sixth inning to pick up his first win, as Hess earned his fifth save this season. Garrett Hill had a strong start, allowing two runs through five innings while striking out four Lansing hitters. Lugnuts reliever Leudeny Pineda (0-1) lasted only two-thirds of an inning, allowing two runs in his first loss of the year. The Whitecaps improve to 32-27 as the Lansing Lugnuts fall to 33-37.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Lansing Lugnuts tangle for the penultimate contest of this six-game series from LMCU Ballpark Saturday at 7:05 pm. West Michigan sends righty Brendan White to the mound against Lugnuts pitcher Colin Peluse. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty starts on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50 pm. Get your tickets for all 2021 home games now at www.whitecapsbaseball.com.
