COMSTOCK PARK, MI - For the first time in franchise history, the Great Lakes Loons were held to only one hit in a nine-inning game, losing the series finale to the West Michigan Whitecaps Sunday afternoon, 8-0. The Loons were shut out for the second time in four games against the ‘Caps in the second half-opening set after not being blanked at all in 70 games in the first half.
The one-hitter was the second against the Loons in franchise history and came two years to the day since the previous occurrence, on June 28, 2007, in a 1-0 loss against Fort Wayne in a seven-inning game that was the first of a doubleheader. The Loons also pitched a one-hitter in that contest, the only one-hitter they've thrown in franchise history.
Casey Crosby twirled five no-hit innings as the Whitecaps starter before giving way to Robert Waite in the top of the sixth. Waite retired the first two Loons hitters in the sixth before Dee Gordon looped a fly ball down the line into shallow left field for a double. Waite then worked hitless innings in the seventh and eight before Nick Cassavechia pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to close out the one-hitter.
West Michigan scratched across single runs in the first and third innings for a 2-0 lead against Loons starter JonMichael Redding. Gustavo Nunez singled and scored on a two-out single by Billy Nowlin in the first, then an error by Redding on a play at first allowed Avisail Garcia to score in the third.
The Whitecaps took advantage of two Loons errors to score four unearned runs in the fourth inning to blow open a close game. A double and consecutive miscues loaded the bases with no outs. Garcia plated one run with a sacrifice fly before Nunez delivered a two-RBI triple down the right field line to make it a 5-0 game. Brent Wyatt followed with a single for a 6-0 lead through four. West Michigan added two more runs in the fifth against Loons reliever Kyle Smit for the 8-0 margin.
Redding (9-3) took the loss for the Loons, allowing six runs (two earned) in four innings of work. Crosby (6-2) got the win for the Whitecaps.
After a day off on Monday, the Loons return to Dow Diamond for a four-game series against the Lansing Lugnuts. Game one of the series is Tuesday night at 7:05 p.m. and is another Dollar Family Feast Night presented by Chemical Bank, with $1 hot dogs, 16-oz. sodas and ice cream sandwiches available at the concessions stands. Josh Walter (4-1, 2.34) will start for the Loons against Lugnuts left-hander John Anderson (2-4, 4.74).
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