COMSTOCK PARK, MI - The West Michigan Whitecaps once again enjoyed fantastic pitching and broke open a close game with a pair of big innings and cruised to a 6-1 victory over the Great Lakes Loons on a brilliant Sunday afternoon in front of 6,702 at Fifth Third Ballpark.

Whitecaps starter Alfred Gutierrez decided to record his first seven outs via the strikeout, and kept tallying more in seven innings of work. The 'Caps offense managed to squeeze a first inning run off Loons starter Riley Ottesen - who was making his Midwest League debut. The 1-0 lead held until the sixth inning when West Michigan plated two runs on two Great Lakes throwing errors and a Danny Pinero RBI-double. The lead extended to 6-0 with three more 'Caps runs. Four consecutive base hits-all coming on the first pitch highlighted the big inning. Zac Shepherd banged an RBI-double. A Derek Hill RBI-single and a Danny Woodrow sacrifice fly rounded out the scoring. After setting the all-time Midwest League record for shutouts in a single season on Friday night, the Whitecaps flirted with another shutout but Great Lakes shortstop Gavin Lux greeted 'Caps reliever Jake Shull with a triple in the ninth inning and scored on a Cristian Santana sacrifice fly to score the Loons only run.

With the win, Gutierrez (9-5) finished out one of his best starts of 2017 by scattering three singles, allowing two walks and striking out a career-high 11 Loons batters. Ottesen (0-1) absorbed the loss, working three innings, surrendering two hits, two walks and recording one strikeout. The 'Caps outhit Great Lakes 10-4, with Hill and Shepard pacing the offense with two hits each. Five different Whitecaps contributed in the RBI department as the Whitecaps won three of the four games of the series, won their 14th game of the last 18, and improved to 80-35 overall in 2017. Great Lakes slipped to 57-61 on the season. West Michigan has not lost a series since the All-Star break, winning twelve and tying two.

UP NEXT

The Whitecaps hit the road for over a week to endure their final eight game roadtrip of the season, beginning with a four-game series against the Dayton Dragons Monday at 7:00p.m. Pitcher Matt Manning makes his second start on the mound against Dayton's Matt Blandino. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:50p.m. Tickets can be reserved for any Whitecaps 2017 home contest by calling the Whitecaps front office at 616-784-4131 or by visiting www.whitecapsbaseball.com.

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