MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Great Lakes Loses Late

Published on August 23, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons kept it close Monday night at Dow Diamond against the West Michigan Whitecaps, but ran into trouble in the eighth inning to lose 5-2, totaling four errors in the contest.

In the eighth inning Loons reliever Jordan Roberts, who had already pitched two hitless innings, committed an error that resulted in the Whitecaps scoring their go-ahead run. With one out and a runner on second, Roberts intentionally walked clean-up batter Avisail Garcia to set up a double-play situation. The chance came on a sharp grounder from Tony Plagman that met Roberts at the mound. Roberts picked up the loose ball, spun to his left and made an errant throw to second base that allowed Jeff Rowland to score.

"Every night is different, and tonight we just didn't execute when we needed to," Loons manager Juan Bustabad said. "Jordan [Roberts] had been pitching good, but on the groundball back to him, he throws it away. And normally that's a double-play ball. The game would be 2-2 going into the ninth."

Instead it was 3-2 with one out, which brought Steve Ames in from the 'pen to try and limit the damage. On his first pitch, Ames chucked a wild pitch to advance both base runners into scoring position. Ames then got Michael Rockett to pop up to second base, but Rafael Ynoa was playing in and was not able to make the catch. Ynoa picked up the ball and, in an attempt to throw out the runner advancing home, committed a throwing error to allow the 'Caps another run in the inning. West Michigan scored their final run, in a ninth inning that brought about two additional Loons errors, on Corey Jones' RBI-single.

"You've got to look at the positives," Bustabad said. "We've won 81 games and we've made the playoffs, so we've just got to finish off the games that we have left, and that's all we can do. Just get ready for the playoffs."

Sticking with the positives, the Loons did find two runs on Christian Lara and Jaime Ortiz RBI-singles. Loons starter Allen Webster tossed five innings, giving up one earned run on five hits.

Roberts was charged with the loss, allowing one earned run on one hit over 2.1 innings of work. The three other W-Cap runs were unearned, the result of four errors and two wild pitches.

The Loons finish their seven-game homestand Tuesday against the West Michigan Whitecaps. LHP Greg Wilborn (3-1, 2.78) will start on the mound for the Loons, while RHP Patrick Cooper (1-0, 3.79) will go for the Whitecaps. Tuesday is $1 Family Feast Night, presented by Chemical Bank, where fans can buy hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches and 16 oz. Coke products for a dollar each.

The Great Lakes Loons are a fourth-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 August 23, 2010


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