LocalSportsJournal.com
LANSING, MI – The West Michigan Whitecaps received a two-run homer and three-RBI performance from catcher Eduardo Valencia and highlighted a 9-4 win over the Lansing Lugnuts on Wednesday night.
The game was played at Jackson Field.
Valencia, playing in part of his third season with West Michigan, hit only one home run in his first three minor league seasons before blasting six between three teams in 2022.
The game got off to a slow start as both teams went scoreless into the third inning when the ‘Caps scored their first two runs, highlighted by a balk by Lugnuts starting pitcher Mitch Myers.
After Lansing plated a run in the bottom of the inning, the ‘Caps got two more courtesy of Valencia’s two-run shot.
The Lugnuts responded with two runs of their own, highlighted by a run-scoring double from CJ Rodriguez to tighten the score to 4-3.
In the sixth, the ‘Caps plated three more runs, highlighted by an RBI-double from Valencia before a run-scoring single by Carlos Mendoza.
In the seventh, Lansing loaded the bases before ‘Caps reliever Cristhian Tortosa struck out Lazaro Armentaros to end the threat.
West Michigan added a run in the eighth on an RBI-single by Jace Jung.
The Whitecaps (4-1) pulled even with Lansing for the Midwest League’s best record through five games.
‘Caps reliever Tyler Mattison (1-0) tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings to collect his first win of the season, while Myers (0-1) gave up four runs through four frames in his first loss of the 2023 campaign.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps continue this six-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts on Thursday at 6:05 pm.
Lefty Carlos Pena makes his second start of the year against Lugnuts hurler Joelvis Del Rosario.
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.
