MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Great Lakes Sinks Whitecaps

Published on June 11, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons (24-40) picked up a season-best sixth win in a row on Tuesday night, defeating the West Michigan Whitecaps (30-34) by a score of 13-6 on the strength of 11 runs in the first two innings.

"Obviously, it feels good," Loons manager Razor Shines said. "The kids are playing good baseball. They're swinging the bats really well and we're getting some good innings out of the bullpen. I'm very pleased. I'm just kind of lost for words. I'm just so excited about what's going on and thrilled to death that the kids are playing well."

The Loons jumped all over Whitecaps starter Edgar De La Rosa (3-1), scoring four runs in the first inning. Leadoff hitter James Baldwin scored the first run, scoring from third base on a wild pitch. Five-hitter Aaron Miller capped the inning with a 385-foot three-run home run to left field, driving in Leo Rodriguez and Tyler Ogle.

"The guy had a good fastball, but I was able to foul a few of them off early," Miller said. "I got down 1-2, was able to get it to 2-2, and we had guys on first and third. My whole plan was to just put a good swing on it and get a ball to the outfield and get the guy to score. I was able to get a hold of a ball that got a little too much of the plate."

Great Lakes scored seven runs in the second to open up an 11-0 lead. The Loons sent 13 batters to the plate in the inning and five Loons had RBI singles in the frame. Leo Rodriguez had two RBI singles and Jeremy Rathjen had a bases-loaded single to drive in two runs. The other run came when Baldwin drew a bases-loaded walk.

Four of the Loons runs in the second came against De La Rosa before he was lifted for Alex Phillips. De La Rosa threw 1 1/3 innings and took credit for the loss, giving up eight runs on eight hits, while striking out one and walking one.

The Whitecaps got on the board in the top of the third with two home runs off Loons starting pitcher Julio Urias. The 16-year-old native of Mexico City gave up a home run for the first time in his professional career when Jake Stewart drove a 2-1 pitch 415 feet to left field and out of the ballpark. Three-hitter Devon Travis hit the second home run of the inning, hitting a Urias pitch 385 feet to right field, scoring Jared Reaves.

Urias had the shortest start of his young professional career, pitching 2 2/3 innings and giving up three runs on four hits. He struck out two and walked one.

Baldwin dropped a fly ball into the corner in left field in the home half of the fourth to drive in Holland for the Loons 12th run of the game.

Phillips went two innings for West Michigan and gave up four runs on six hits, while walking three and striking out one.

West Michigan cleanup hitter Jeff Holm hit a bases-loaded double in the top of the fifth inning to drive in Danry Vasquez, Reaves and Travis.

Loons reliever Alan Garcia came in for Urias and threw 1 1/3 innings, giving up three runs on three hits, while striking out two and walking one.

Garcia was lifted for Geoff Brown (3-1) in the fifth inning, who allowed the first two batters he faced to get on base to load the bases, but induced two groundballs to get out of the jam.

Brown pitched three scoreless innings to receive credit for the win. He held the Whitecaps to just one hit, while striking out one and walking one.

"When I came in to the game, I kind of struggled a little bit," Brown said. "When the bases were loaded, I just wanted to get the ball down and away so I could have the chance to get a ground ball and a double play. It was just big time damage control."

The Loons added a run in the eighth inning. Holland tripled down the left field line, scoring Rathjen.

Scott Griggs pitched two scoreless innings to finish the game for Great Lakes.

The Loons are back in action on Wednesday night, with the second game of a three-game series against West Michigan. Zachary Bird (1-1, 5.85 ERA) is expected to start for the Loons and the projected starter for West Michigan is Jake Thompson (0-1, 8.22), the No. 4 prospect in the Detroit Tigers farm system. Game time is 7:05 p.m. It is the first game of the Michigan Legend Series at Dow Diamond, featuring an appearance by Steve Garvey, a two-sport legend at Michigan State that was an All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres.

The Great Lakes Loons are a seventh-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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Midwest League Stories from June 11, 2013


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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