TRAVERSE CITY -- It was a big day for some struggling Beach Bums.
Mike Epping hit a two-run homer to get Traverse City (10-9) off to a fast start in a 6-1 win over the Midwest Sliders of Ypsilanti (9-10).
The home run was the first of the season for Epping, who was hitting only .231 through the first 18 games.
Corey Whiting -- who scored on Epping's homer -- added an RBI single in the second inning.
Patrick Perry -- mired in an 8-for-41 start of the season -- singled in James Guerrero in the fifth, and Kyle Maunus -- hitting .246 -- cracked a two-run double one batter later.
Kevin Reece improved to 2-1, going six innings. He gave up six hits and two walks. Greg Ford added two scoreless innings of relief work, and Ryan Kruszka threw a hitless inning to close it out in his professional debut.
Whiting had three hits for the Bums, while Epping, Perry, Maunus and Brad Miller each had two as TC racked up 12 base hits. Miller came into the game batting .180.
Epping's shot was the first homer hit by a Bums players at Wuerfel Park this season.
Midwest picked up its lone run of the game in the sixth inning when Gilberto Zayas drove home Jimmy Baker with a single.
Former Beach Bum hurler Jon Haldis struck out two in 1.1 innings in relief of starter James Albury (1-1).
The teams meet again tonight at 7:05 p.m. at Wuerfel Park, with left-hander Shawn Joy making his first start of the season.
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