MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Four Loons Homers Not Enough

Published on August 4, 2012 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - After establishing a 5-0 lead, courtesy of four home runs and a great start from pitcher Greg Wilborn, the Great Lakes Loons let Dayton battle back to a 6-5 victory Saturday night at Dow Diamond in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,257 fans.

The Dragons picked up two runs in the eighth off newcomer Scott Griggs, before charging ahead in the ninth with four runs on four hits. Juan Rodriguez started the inning and allowed a solo home run and two singles to put the go-ahead run at the plate. Yimi Garcia came in to kill the rally, but allowed Juan Perez a two-run triple to knot the game at five. With only one out, a fielder's choice allowed Dayton's winning run to cross the plate. Garcia was charged with the loss.

Prior to the rally, the Loons had held the Dragons scoreless through the first seven innings, guided by Wilborn. The lefty turned in his longest start of the season at 6.2 innings, in which he held the Dragons to one hit with five strikeouts.

"I just tried to pound the zone early and get early contact and quick outs to give my team a chance to win," Wilborn said. "I was getting my fastballs over for strikes, my slider was working well and [used] my change-up to keep them off balance, which helped to get quick outs. [The final outcome] is disappointing, just because our hitters did so well and just kept building on their lead."

Accounting for two of the Loons four home runs was shortstop Darnell Sweeney, who got the team on the board in the first inning by fighting off eight pitches before sending a shot to right field. The long ball continued in the second inning when James Baldwin stepped to the plate, driving the ball over the right field wall for his fifth homer of the season. Baldwin finished with three stolen bags. In the following at-bat Sweeney connected for his second of the night.

The consecutive home runs were the first of the season, and first since August 13, 2011, when Chris Jacobs and Jesse Bosnik connected for two in Lake County. Outfielder Scott Schebler was also striking the ball well, getting a double off the wall in the third and a sac-fly to left field in the fifth. First baseman O'Koyea Dickson had a broken-bat solo homer in the seventh.

The Great Lakes Loons will play game two of their four-game set with the Dayton Dragons on Sunday at 2:05 p.m. Starting on the hill for the Loons will be RHP Duke von Schamann (2-2, 2.25) against RHP James Allen (7-3, 3.51). Fans attending the game are encouraged to wear their bathing suits for Super Splash Day presented by the Midland Community Center. A Splash Zone will be set up on the concourse for kids looking to cool off. After the game, kids can run the bases courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance.

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Midwest League Stories from August 4, 2012


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