Northwoods Lakeshore Chinooks

Gavin Downs Hurls Complete Game Shutout

Published on June 1, 2015 under Northwoods League (Northwoods)
Lakeshore Chinooks News Release


Mequon, WI - Looking to get a winning streak going after snapping a three-game losing streak on Sunday, the Lakeshore Chinooks came out for an early 11:35 game against the Madison Mallards on Monday. The club indeed won their second game in as many days, triumphing over the Mallards 1-0 after a dominant showing from starter Gavin Downs (Purdue).

The Chinooks had some rough pitching during their losing streak, giving up 30 runs over three games. Lake Bachar (UW-Whitewhater) changed that on Sunday with a great outing, and Downs built off of that momentum with a complete game shutout of the Mallards on Monday. Downs only needed 84 pitches to get through the outing, showcasing just how dominant he was. He scattered just five hits throughout the start while walking none and striking out five.

"I had a lot of plays behind me today," Downs said, "I kept attacking with the fastball down in the zone." Asked of the importance of starters putting together two straight good outings, Downs said, "When your starters can go a little longer, it makes it a little bit easier to win... it also gives the bullpen a break."

After the Chinooks struggled on defense in their past two contests, making nine combined errors, they had no such problems in this game. Not only did the team make no errors, but the defense saved Downs on a couple of occasions. Possibly the most important play of the game came in the top of the sixth when the Mallards put runners on first and second with no outs. A single from Anthony Gonsolin (St. Marys College) threatened to plate a run and tie the game, but Chinooks left fielder Jake Romano (Miami-Ohio) had other ideas, throwing out Logan Regnier (Central Michigan) at home to end the inning and preserve the 1-0 lead.

Westin Wuethrich (Madison College) had a nice start of his own for the Mallards. He wound up throwing 5.1 innings, not quite providing the length that Downs did, but still pitching effectively by giving up just one run on five hits while striking out three.

The lone run that the Chinooks managed off of him came in the fourth inning, when Romano led off the frame with a double. After advancing to third on a Doug Kraeger (Richmond), Romano scored when Greg Deichmann (Louisiana State) brought him home with a single. The club threatened to do more in the frame, loading the bases with two outs, but ultimately they could not cash in on the chance.

The Chinooks did miss out on some opportunities throughout the contest, leaving nine runners on base. The single run was all they would need, though, thanks to Downs' great outing. The team did smack seven hits, with Kyle Wood (Purdue) going 3 for 4 and Deichmann going 2 for 4 to account for five of those seven.

The Chinooks will return to Kapco Park to take on the Mallards again on Tuesday, June 2nd. That will conclude a four-game home stand as they will head out on the road for a two-game series with the Wisconsin Rapids Rafters on Wednesday, June 3rd and Thursday, June 4th.

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Northwoods League Stories from June 1, 2015


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