MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Captains Fend off Loons Rally

Published on September 14, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - After falling behind early Monday, the Great Lakes Loons were unable to overcome the seven runs scored by the Lake County Captains, despite an impressive rally that cut the lead to one. The 7-6 loss forces a decisive Game 3 to be played at Dow Diamond on Tuesday, with the winner advancing to face the Clinton LumberKings in the Midwest League Championship Series.

The Captains jumped out to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning and continued to pick on Loons starting pitcher Allen Webster, who was charged with the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on seven hits over 2.2 innings. Replacing Webster in the third was Ryan Christenson, who loaded the bases in the fourth inning on three walks, then tossed another to give Lake County their seventh and final run.

By that point, the Loons rally had begun, having hit four singles to score two in the bottom of the third. Next, in the bottom of the fourth, Joe Becker hit a sacrifice fly to score Angelo Songco, who reached on a leadoff walk. The Loons big inning was the fifth, which began with four consecutive leadoff hits that scored two runs off of Captains reliever Owen Dew. A single by Rafael Ynoa later in the inning scored another to pull the Loons to within one. A walk to Becker loaded the bases with one out, but an infield pop-up by Jaime Ortiz and a pop-fly by catcher Gorman Erickson ended the Loons last real chance.

Keeping the Loons in it late was the relief pitching of J.B. Paxson, who offered up 77 pitches over 4.1 hitless innings.

"That's the most that Paxson has pitched all year," Loons manager Juan Bustabad said. "He did his job and kept us in the game. We were just one hit away from either tying it or taking the lead on [Lake County]."

After fanning six Captains, Paxson was relieved by Steve Smith, who picked up two strikeouts in a scoreless ninth.

Lake County's Francisco Jimenez picked up his second win of the postseason for 2.2 innings of scoreless baseball; Preston Guilmet notched his third save of the postseason.

Offensively, Great Lakes outhit the Lake County 10-8, as four Loons produced two-hit nights. Nick Buss led the team with two RBI.

Dow Diamond will host Game 3 of the Midwest League's Eastern Division Championship Series Tuesday at 7:05 p.m., as the Loons send LHP Greg Wilborn (4-2, 3.26 / 0-0, 5.40) to the hill against the Captains LHP Vidal Nuno (6-8, 4.86 / 0-1, 7.20). The game will feature another $1 Family Feast Night, courtesy of Chemical Bank.

The Great Lakes Loons are a fourth-year Single-A partner 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 September 14, 2010


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