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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Bullpen Implodes in Slug Fest

July 26, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


BOWLING GREEN, Ky. - The Loons of 2018 sung a familiar stanza on Thursday night, squandering a 7-0 lead to the Bowling Green Hot Rods and bowing in defeat 9-8 at Bowling Green Ballpark.

The loss harkened back to six-run lead lost by the Loons on June 14 that triggered a 13-game losing streak. While the offense enjoyed another abundant night (15 runs and 30 hits through the first two games of the series), the bullpen staggered in the fifth and keeled over in the seventh as Bowling Green dashed the Loons' hopes of winning a series over the team with the best record, and the highest batting average, in the Midwest League.

Righty Gerardo Carrillo started the game and allowed one run through his first four innings, but exited with one out in the fifth and runners at the corners. Sven Schueller entered from the bullpen and Bowling Green struck for two run-scoring doubles to make the score 7-4.

After the Loons' extended their lead to 8-4 in the top of the seventh, Schueller lost his command following the stretch. Bowling Green placed runners on second and third with one out following a single, hit batter and wild pitch. Zach Rutherford then smoked a ball up the third-base line that was booted by Luke Heyer for an error that scored a run.

Like Schueller before him, Darién Nuñez struggled to throw strikes out of the Loons' bullpen. After Carl Chester blooped a ball into left field to make the score 8-6, Nuñez fell behind 2-0 to Moises Gomez, who proceeded to launch the next offering off the batter's eye in center field to give Bowling Green a 9-8 advantage. Gomez homered twice in the game and became the second opponent to tee off for multiple homers in a game against the Loons this season (Beloit's Jesus Lopez on May 9).

The meltdown sullied another strong performance by the Loons' offense. Deacon Liput, the Dodgers' 10th-round selection out of Florida, racked up four hits and smacked his second home run in 11 games in the fourth inning to put the Loons ahead 7-0. Eric Peterson and Josh McLain also produced multiple hits in the lineup.

The Loons and Hot Rods play a rubber match on Friday at 7:35 p.m. EDT.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 26, 2018


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