MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Four Errors Foil Loons Bid for Playoffs

Published on June 19, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons needed a win Sunday over the Fort Wayne TinCaps to clinch a Midwest League playoff spot, however the home team committed four errors in the first three innings that allowed Fort Wayne a 5-0 lead that proved to be too much for the Loons to overcome, eventually losing by the same score before a Dow Diamond sell-out crowd of 5,430.

With the Loons loss, Lansing and Bowling Green clinch Midwest League playoff spots for their superior records in the season's first half. Now the league standings will reset and the Loons will have to clinch a playoff spot based solely on their second-half record.

The TinCaps took the early 1-0 lead against the Loons in the first inning with a quick run on a single to left field. There may have been a play at the plate, but left fielder Joc Pederson committed a fielding error that allowed the runner from second to cross home plate uncontested.

Fort Wayne's big inning came in the third, which started with a single and two Loons errors to load the bases. TinCaps first baseman Connor Powers hit a bases-clearing double to the gap in left-center field that made it 4-0. Oscar Garcia hit a single later in the inning to score the fifth run for the ‘Caps.

On the mound for the Loons over the first three innings was right-handed Dominican Angel Sanchez. In his third start of the season, Sanchez was charged with his first loss after allowing two earned runs on six hits with no walks and five strikeouts. Loons reliever Ryan Acosta stepping to pitch four innings of scoreless baseball and allowed just one hit. Pete Budkevics and Raul Burgos each pitched for an inning to combine for three strikeouts.

"Our pitching and our defense can take the back seat to no one in the league," Loons manger John Shoemaker said, assessing the first half. "Offensively a lot of guys are needing to make some improvements and adjustments, but I've been happy with the effort. They gave us a good stretch drive here, winning five in a row; we just came up a game short."

The Loons will have four days off before beginning the season's second half on Friday in Lansing. Prior to Friday's game, three Loons will participate in the league's All-Star Game on Tuesday in Davenport, Iowa. Making the trip will be RHP Garrett Gould, RHP Ryan Christenson, and RHP Red Patterson. The Loons will return to Dow Diamond on Monday, June 27, to face Bowling Green. Fans attending Monday's game will receive a Zach Lee poster courtesy of F.P. Horak.

The Great Lakes Loons are a fifth-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 June 19, 2011


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