MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Garate Chops Lugnuts

Published on July 5, 2008 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


LANSING, MI - Loons' starter Victor Garate struck out 12 Lugnut batters through six innings, Garrett White fanned six more, and the Loons defeated the Lugnuts 6-3 Saturday night. The game was played before a 2008 regular-season high 11,384 fans at Oldsmobile Park.

Garate (5-3) allowed two runs in the first inning, including a solo home run to Justin Jackson, but settled down to fan 12 batters. The mark is a new career high (his previous best was 11, set twice, most recently on July 31, 2003 in the Venezuelan Summer League) and ties a Loons' franchise best, set by Clayton Kershaw, April 24, 2007 versus Cedar Rapids.

White entered the game in relief and struck out six in three innings of relief to record his first save of 2008. The 18 strikeouts by Loons' pitchers sets a new franchise best. The previous high was also set against Lansing, June 13, 2008.

Trailing 2-0 in the top of the second, the Loons recorded three straight hits on three straight pitches - a single by Brandon Taylor, a double by Alex Garabedian and a single by Francisco Lizarraga - the last of which brought home the Loons' first run. Later in the inning, with the bases loaded and no outs, Brian Mathews grounded into a double play which tied the game at 2-2.

Then in the sixth with one out, Taylor hit his first home run with the Loons to give the team a 3-2 lead. The Loons added single runs in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.

Taylor finished with three hits (a single, double and homer), two runs and two RBIs. Alfredo Silverio, in his second game in the leadoff spot, notched three hits, all singles. Lambo returned from an injury to record two hits and an RBI.

The Loons and Lugnuts continue their three-game series from Lansing Sunday afternoon beginning at 2:05pm. The game will be carried in Mid-Michigan on ESPN 100.9-FM (WLUN), the Loons' flagship radio home. Right-hander Given Kutz (3-2, 4.10 ERA) will start for the Loons against left-hander Brian Letko (0-1, 4.09).

The Great Lakes Loons are the second-year Single-A affiliate 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 July 5, 2008


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