COMSTOCK PARK, MI – West Michigan Whitecaps first baseman Beau Ankeney enjoyed the first walk-off home run of his life in a 7-5 victory over the Lansing Lugnuts in front of 8,939 fans Thursday night at LMCU Ballpark.
Ankeney joins Eric De La Rosa, Colt Keith, and Izaac Pacheco as the only four Whitecaps players with a walk-off home run in the last decade, sending a two-run homer over the right-field wall with two outs in the ninth and handing West Michigan the 2-1 series edge.
Lansing took a commanding lead with four runs in the third and fourth innings, highlighted by a two-run homer from infielder Daniel Bucciero to take a 4-0 lead. West Michigan responded with three runs in the bottom of the fourth as Cristian Santana added a three-run homer, cutting the deficit to 4-3. Lansing then added a run in the fifth on an RBI single from Ali Camarillo, but the 'Caps weren't finished, as outfielder Jackson Strong collected a solo homer before infielder Samuel Gil tied the game on an RBI double, 5-5. Whitecaps relievers Logan Berrier and Jalen Evans combined for three scoreless innings with five strikeouts to keep the game tied at five before Ankeney came through in the bottom half, sending his two-run blast over the right-field wall and sending West Michigan to the dramatic 7-5 finish.
The Whitecaps improve to 26-19 in the second half and 50-59 overall, while the Lugnuts fall to 19-25 in the second half and 48-60 overall. Evans (4-3) secures his fourth win with a scoreless frame, while Lugnuts reliever Darlin Pinales (2-3) suffers his third loss, giving up a run through 1.2 innings pitched. Ankeney becomes the first West Michigan Whitecaps player to hit a walk-off homer since Izaac Pacheco's walk-off slam to beat the Great Lakes Loons on May 26 of last season, which was the first walk-off slam in Whitecaps franchise history.
UP NEXT
The Whitecaps and Lugnuts play the fourth game of this six-game series at LMCU Ballpark Friday night, with first pitch scheduled for 6:35 pm. Pitchers Jojo Ingrassia and Sam Dutton get the starts for the ‘Caps and ‘Nuts. Broadcast coverage with Dan Hasty and Nate Wangler begins on the Whitecaps Baseball Network at 6:20 pm on ‘The Ticket West Michigan’ and 1340 WJRW-AM in Grand Rapids, and online at WhitecapsBaseball.com.