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Loons Battle Back But Fall Short

April 19, 2008 - Midwest League (MWL) Great Lakes Loons

Andrew Lambo homered twice and the Great Lakes Loons scored seven unanswered runs to close the ballgame, but it still wasn't enough to mount a comeback. The Peoria Chiefs scored the game's first nine runs and won by a score of 9-7 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,567 at Dow Diamond Saturday night.

Loons starter Daigoro Rondon (2-2) got roughed up in his brief start, pitching only 2 1/3 innings allowing nine hits and seven Chiefs' runs before being forced from the ballgame. Thomas Melgarejo came on in relief and allowed the remaining two runs before settling down and pitching 3 2/3 innings keeping his club in the game.

While Melgarejo kept Peoria's bats at bay, his offense began to climb back into the ballgame. Kenley Jansen launched his second home run of 2008 leading off the bottom of the third to make it 9-1. Later in the frame, Andrew Lambo connected for the first of his two longballs on the night, a line drive home run just clearing the fence down the right field foul line bringing home three runs and making the score 9-4 Chiefs.

In the fourth, controversy brought home two more Loons runs as with runners on second and third and two outs, Erik Kanaby sent a ground ball to Peoria shortstop Nate Samson. The infielder's throw to first nearly pulled first baseman Blake Lalli off the bag, but infield umpire Phil Henry motioned that Lalli stayed on the bag and that the runner was out. Lalli flipped the ball to the mound, then Henry reversed his call ruling Kanaby safe because Lalli did not have full control of the ball. Two runs scored and the Loons pulled to 9-6.

In the fifth, Lambo hit his second home run of the night, a solo shot to bring the Loons within two runs, but they would come no closer.

In the sixth, Lambo came up with the bases loaded and ripped a deep drive into the left-center field gap, but a great sliding catch by left fielder Cliff Andersen robbed Lambo of extra bases, and the Loons of possibly trying the game.

In the eighth, Lambo came to the plate with the bases loaded to face closer Dustin Sasser who got Peoria out of the jam by striking out Lambo and getting pinch-hitter Brian Mathews to groundout ending the threat.

Lambo became the first Loon to homer twice in a game since Francisco Lizarraga on August 22, 2007. The Loons' three homers is the club's most since hitting four July 24, 2007 at Beloit. The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Loons.

The Loons fall to 8-7 while the Chiefs up their record to 7-9.

This three-game series against Ryne Sandberg's Peoria Chiefs concludes Sunday afternoon. Game time is 3:05pm at Dow Diamond. Justin Miller is scheduled to start for the Loons. It's Family Fun in the SUNday at the ballpark, and all kids can run the bases following the game, courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. The Loons will also celebrate mascot Lou E. Loon's second birthday with mascots from statewide sports teams. The game will also be carried on the radio flagship home for Great Lakes Loons baseball, ESPN 100.9-FM.

The Great Lakes Loons are the second-year Single-A affiliate of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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Midwest League Stories from April 19, 2008


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