Whitecaps blank Loons

Alfredo Figaro hurled six shutout innings allowing three hits, and Paul Nardozzi and Rudy Darrow followed out of the West Michigan bullpen with three hitless, scoreless innings as the West Michigan Whitecaps shut out the Great Lakes Loons 9-0.

Bryan Morris started for the Loons and allowed three runs in the third inning. Jon Dutton followed out of the bullpen in the fifth inning and recorded just one out before allowing four runs and giving way to reliever Miguel Sanfler. Sanfler got out of the fifth unscathed but allowed the Whitecaps’ final two runs to score in the seventh.

The Whitecaps pounded out 12 hits against Loons pitching, 11 singles and one double.

Leadoff hitter Kyle Peter went 3-for-3 with 3 RBIs and was on base all five times he batted. Casper Wells drove in two runs. Wells, Chris Carlson and Kody Kaiser all had two hits each.

The loss drops the Loons’ record to 4-3, tied with Dayton for third in the Midwest League East, two games behind West Michigan and Lansing, who are both 6-1.

The Loons seek a split in their four-game series with the Whitecaps Thursday night. First pitch is scheduled for 6:35 p.m. Right-hander Kyle Smit (0-0) makes his second start of the season for the Loons. He will face left-hander Manny Miguelez (0-0).