Whitecaps offense too much for Great Lakes

COMSTOCK PARK, MI – Casper Wells says he “was conceived in Grand Rapids” and lived there for the first year and a half of his life, but has little memory of his time spent there in the late 1980s.  He’ll likely remember his April 7, 2008 performance for the West Michigan Whitecaps. 

The Whitecaps’ right fielder homered twice and drove in four runs in West Michigan’s home-opening, 11-1 victory over the Great Lakes Loons Monday night.

The Whitecaps improved to 5-0 with the win that featured plenty of highlights.  In addition to Wells’ offensive heroics, left fielder Mark McBratney recorded three hits and four runs and first baseman Chris Carlson doubled twice.  The ‘Caps struck for 14 hits against the Loons’ pitching trio of Daigoro Rondon, Geison Aguasviva and Thomas Melgarejo.

“We had too many mistakes pitching,” said Loons manager Juan Bustabad, whose team dropped its first road game to fall to 3-2 overall. “It was just a bad game overall and just one of those nights when our pitchers, it seemed, had to get six outs per inning.”

Additionally, the Whitecaps received strong pitching performances.  Left-hander Jon Kibler, who played last season for Michigan State before being drafted by the Tigers in the 30^th round of the 2007 draft, did not allow an earned run in five innings.  Santo Maieses followed with three perfect relief innings, striking out four.  Andrew Hess pitched a scoreless ninth. 

The Loons’ offense mustered just four hits – two by Travis Vetters and one each by Jovanny Rosario and Erik Kanaby.  With his third inning single, Rosario extended his season-starting hitting streak to five games.

The Loons and Whitecaps meet for the second game of their four-game series Tuesday night beginning at 6:35pm.  Loons’ right-hander Justin Miller (0-0, 1.80) will oppose lefty Ramon Garcia (0-0, 0.00). 

Brad Golder
ESPN 100.9-FM
Great Lakes Loons
Director of Communications
Play-by-Play Broadcaster