The Great Lakes Loons (3-10) walked two batters and hit another two, giving up 3-runs in the first, then walked 3-batters, leading to another 3-runs in the fourth, before 2-more walks, an error, and a wild pitch led to 1-run in the ninth, as the Loons dropped a 7-2 decision to the West Michigan Whitecaps (10-3) at Dow Diamond this afternoon.
Loons starter Riley Ottesen (0-2, 9.82 ERA) walked the first two batters of the game, then hit the next two batters, which led to a 3-0 Whitecaps lead in the top of the first inning.
The Loons started to get something going when second baseman Marcus Chiu, catcher Garrett Hope, and first baseman Nick Yarnall, hit back-to-back-to-back 1-out singles, with Yarnall driving in Chiu on an RBI-single, however, they could only manage 1-run to cut the West Michigan lead to 3-1 in the bottom of the third inning.
The Whitecaps added to its lead in the following inning when West Michigan CF Luke Burch cleared the bases, driving in another 3-runs with an RBI-double after West Michigan had loaded the bases with three walks, building a 6-1 lead in the top of the fourth inning.
Ottesen (0-2, 9.82 ERA) was charged with his first loss of the season after giving up 5-runs on 1-hit and 4-walks, while striking out 5-batters through 3-2/3 innings.
The Loons added another run when Great Lakes third baseman Brandon Montgomery (1) belted his first home run of the season, cutting into the Whitecaps' lead (6-2) in the bottom of the fifth inning.
A wild pitch in the top of the ninth led to another West Michigan run after a walk and an error had put the Whitecaps runner on third base for a 7-2 lead.
The Loons will look to salvage the final game of a 3-game series against the Whitecaps at Dow Diamond tomorrow afternoon.
Jason Marcoux
