MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Dayton Completes Three-Game Sweep of Loons

Published on April 27, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - A homestand that started with all kinds of promise had a rocky finish for the Great Lakes Loons.

The Loons concluded a seven-game stand Sunday at Dow Diamond with their fourth consecutive defeat, a 3-1 loss to Dayton. The homestand began with the Loons winning three consecutive games against Fort Wayne.

Dayton completed a three-game sweep Sunday by stifling the Loons' league-leading offense again. The Loons scored four runs total against the first-place Dragons, who have the lowest earned run average in the Midwest League.

"They lead the league in pitching for a reason," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "What do they have ... seven pitchers who are repeating in this league? That helps."

Dragons starter Sal Romano (3-1) threw five scoreless innings Sunday, allowing just two hits while striking out nine. Four relievers - including closer Scott Brattvet, who earned his fourth save - allowed four hits and one unearned run.

Loons starter Zachary Bird (1-3) battled through five tough innings in which the Dragons had runners on base every inning except the first. Bird allowed two hits and two unearned runs, while striking out three.

"He did a nice job," said Haselman. "We made an error behind him which didn't help, but he's competitor. He kept us in the game."

Dayton (14-7) scored an unearned run in the third, on a single by Joe Hudson, and another in fourth when Jeff Gelalich led off with a triple, then scored with two outs when Loons third baseman Paul Hoenecke misplayed an infield pop fly in a swirling wind.

The Dragons made it 3-0 in the top of the sixth on a home run near the foul pole in right field by Daniel Mateo off of Loons reliever Victor Aruajo.

The Loons scored their lone run in the sixth on a two-out single by Brandon Trinkwon that scored Hoenecke, who led off the inning with a walk. They put two runners on in the eighth, but Dragons reliever Zack Weiss got out of the jam when Dillon Moyer's line drive to short was converted into a double play.

The Loons are 13-10 and in third place in the Midwest League's Eastern Division after leading it for the early part of the week.

"They beat us up," said Haselman of Dayton. "We couldn't do anything against them. They did to us what we want to do to other teams. We just didn't play the kind of ball we're capable of playing this whole series."

The Loons now hit the road for a seven games, starting with a four-game series in Fort Wayne. James Campbell (1-1, 4.91) gets the start for the Loons Monday. Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Great Lakes is back home Monday, May 5, when Dayton returns to Dow Diamond for another three-game series.

The Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets or more information about the team, call 989-837-BALL or visit loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 27, 2014


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