Whitecaps best Loons 9-4

A five-run seventh inning was too much for Great Lakes to overcome Sunday as the West Michigan Whitecaps held on to beat the Loons 9-4.

Great Lakes jumped out to an early 1-0 lead when catcher Carlos Santana hit his third home run of the season. But that lead was quickly erased thanks to back-to-back-to-back doubles by Brennan Boesch, Santo De Leon, and Michael Bertram to make it 3-1.

In the seventh, Loons reliever Joe Jones made his return to the Loons, but struggled in allowing seven straight Whitecaps to reach base in the inning. Five of those White Caps would score to increase the lead to 9-1.

The Loons would add a run in the eighth and two in the ninth on RBI-singles by Tommy Giles and Josh Bell to round out the scoring.

Steven Johnson (1-5) started for the Loons and allowed three runs in four innings in the loss. Jones pitched a total of three innings, allowing six runs on eight hits and walked two. Miguel Sanfler retired West Michigan in order in the ninth during his only inning of work.

The Loons-Whitecaps series concludes Monday when right-hander Chris Malone is scheduled to make his first start in a Loons uniform. Game time is 7 p.m.

A box score of Sunday’s game is available at milb.com.