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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Gray with Strong Debut in Loons Loss

April 6, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - With what was the largest Opening Day crowd in four years looking on, the Great Lakes Loons made their season debut at Dow Diamond and battled their way to a 5-3 defeat at the hands of the Lake County Captains on Saturday. With temperatures over 60 degrees and clear skies above head, a crowd of 3,329 witnessed Josiah Gray make his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers on the mound.

Gray was acquired by the Dodgers in the offseason from the Cincinnati Reds in a trade that sent Yasiel Puig, Kyle Farmer, Matt Kemp, Alex Wood and cash to the Reds for Gray, Jeter Downs and Homer Bailey. The right-hander was pulled from the game before he could close out the 5th inning, closing out his afternoon allowing one run on two hits with six strikeouts.

The Loons (0-3) were first on the board in the bottom of the 2nd inning when Leonel Valera had a bloop single fall into right field to score Miguel Vargas. It was Valera's only base hit of the game, while Vargas was the lone player with a multi-hit game for the Loons.

Despite coming up short on the scoreboard and totaling seven hits, four were extra-base hits with Niko Hulsizer, Jacob Amaya, Hunter Feduccia and Vargas all recording doubles.

Three runs in the 8th proved to be the difference for Lake County (3-0). After the Loons had grabbed a 3-2 lead in the bottom of the 6th inning thanks to back-to-back doubles from Hulsizer and Vargas, the Captains touched up Jasiel Alvino (L, 0-1; BS, 1) for three runs on a double by Ruben Cardenas and a sacrifice fly from Quentin Holmes. It was a banner day for Cardenas who went 2-for-3 with a home run and three RBI.

Thomas Ponticelli (W, 1-0) piggybacked with Juan Mota for Lake County each tossing four innings. Skylar Arias (SV, 1) closed out the game with a pair of strikeouts.

The home slate is in full swing now for the Loons as they return to Dow Diamond for a 2:05 p.m. matchup with the Captains on Sunday. Pregame coverage on ESPN 100.9-FM begins at 1:35 p.m. with Brad Tunney and Blake Froling.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.

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