MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Fireworks Flash in Loons' Loss

Published on July 1, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - In a night that promised fans fireworks after the game, the 5,337 in attendance at Dow Diamond on Saturday night got a few sparks early from the Great Lakes Loons in a heated 4-3 loss to the Fort Wayne TinCaps.

After putting up three runs in the top of the seventh to grab a one-run lead, the Fort Wayne TinCaps used the bottom of the frame to perhaps put to rest an unsettled feud.

"We had [been given] a heads up that there had been some previous issues from the previous series [between the two]," home plate umpire Brian Reilly said after the game. "And when [Angelo Songco] came up to bat, he got hit directly in the center of his back. I viewed it intentional and in violation of the on-field behavior policy."

As a result, TinCaps pitcher Luis De La Cruz was ejected from the game and warnings were issued to both clubs. TinCaps manager Jose Valentin did not agree with the ejection and lingered with the discussion while the next pitcher warmed. In the following inning, Loons pitcher Jose Dominguez worked two outs before letting one fly and strike Matt Colantonio, which was deemed intentional by Reilly, who ejected Dominguez and manager John Shoemaker. Chippy moments persisted throughout the night, but the ejection total remained at three, despite one more hit batsman issued by TinCaps closer Daniel Cropper.

The Loons had a 3-1 lead going into the seventh, as catcher Pratt Maynard put the Loons on the board in the second with a home run to right field charted at 405 feet. The TinCaps answered in the third to tie it 1-1, but Great Lakes recaptured the lead in the bottom of the inning when Pedro Guerrero hit a sac-fly scoring Jeff Hunt. They took the two-run lead on James Baldwin's home run to right field. Loons base runners were caught stealing three times during the game.

From the hill, starter Arismendy Ozoria allowed three runs on eight hits over six innings of work for the Loons, tossing one strikeout to two walks. Mike Thomas was charged with the loss, allowing the go-ahead run to Fort Wayne in the seventh after coming into a two-on, no-out situation. Dominguez and Yimi Garcia combined for 2.0 innings of scoreless baseball.

The Great Lakes Loons begin a new three-game series Sunday at Dow Diamond with the Single-A affiliate of the Detroit Tigers, the West Michigan Whitecaps (5-4). Starting the mound for the Loons will be RHP Gustavo Gomez (5-6, 5.02) against the Whitecaps RHP Jeff Ferrell (2-2, 4.56). The game will be the first Sunday night game in Dow Diamond history, with first pitch scheduled for 7:05 p.m., and will be followed by an opportunity for kids to run the bases, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance.

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Midwest League Stories from July 1, 2012


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