Happy Birthday Mark Haley! Hawks Finally Beat Loons

Published on June 26, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


Midland, MI - On manager Mark Haley's birthday, the South Bend Silver Hawks finally broke through and beat the Great Lakes Loons by a 7-6 final score on Saturday night. The win for South Bend ends a 17-game losing streak to Great Lakes dating back to last season and is the first victory in 14 tries against the Loons this season.

The game featured a little bit of everything, including a decisive home run, more strike outs than a team should ever have, and dramatic plays in virtually every inning. However, when the dust finally settled, the end result is what the Silver Hawks desperately needed - a victory over the Loons.

Matt Davidson provided the offense with the game winning home run, a solo blast against Steve Smith (LP, 1-2) with one out in the seventh inning. Davidson had earlier ripped a bases loaded double to the right-center gap in the fifth and finished the night with a four RBI night for the fourth time this season.

The win eases the sting of the Silver Hawks striking out 17 times - a new high for 2010. Keon Broxton had five K's for the second time against the Loons this season, but he wasn't alone as all nine Silver Hawks struck out at least once on the night.

After three scoreless innings, Ramon Castillo gave the Silver Hawks a 1-0 lead with a solo homer in the fourth inning. The Loons answered immediately with an unearned run against Brad Gemberling (WP, 2-4) in the bottom of the fourth.

South Bend scored three more in the fifth on Davidson's bases loaded double, but the Loons responded with four in the bottom of the inning including a three run home run by Angelo Songco to take a 5-4 lead.

South Bend came right back in the top of the sixth with a RBI double by Victor Estevez and a wild pitch that scored Matt Helm for the 6-5 lead. The Loons again had the answer with a run scoring on an Estevez error in the bottom of the sixth to tie the game 6-6.

After three comebacks, the Silver Hawks had to wonder if it would happen again. However, the Loons wouldn't have an answer in the bottom of the seventh after Davidson's homer, although they certainly tried. Great Lakes loaded the bases with one out, but reliever Adam Worthington (ND) got a pop up and a called strike three to end the threat.

Gemberling got the win, allowing four earned runs (six total) in 6.0 innings. Worthington pitched two scoreless innings in relief, and Yonata Ortega (SV, 14) left the tying run at second in the ninth for the save.

The clubs conclude the three game series on Sunday afternoon at 3:05 PM Eastern Time from Dow Diamond. The starting pitching matchup will feature RHP Diogenes Rosario (3-2, 2.58 ERA) for South Bend against Great Lakes' RHP Allen Webster (6-5, 3.11 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 2:45 PM Eastern Time on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 26, 2010


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