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Hawks Playoff Bound Despite Loss

September 6, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
South Bend Silver Hawks News Release


South Bend, IN - Even with a loss on Sunday afternoon, the South Bend Silver Hawks have clinched the final playoff spot in the Midwest League's Eastern Division by virtue of the Dayton Dragons losing to the Great Lakes Loons. South Bend will be the second half wild card team, and will match up with the Fort Wayne TinCaps in the best-of-three series.

As for the game, the Hawks scored three times in the bottom of the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Lansing Lugnuts held on for an 11-10 win in a wild game at Coveleski Stadium.

Trailing 11-7, South Bend sent eight batters to the plate in the ninth against Lansing closer Yorman Mayora (SV, 4). Chris Davis, who had homered earlier in the game, was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded forcing in the first run, and Jake Elmore added a two run single to bring the Hawks within one. With the tying run at second and the winning run at first and one out, Mayora got A.J. Pollock to pop up and Reynaldo Navarro to fly out to end the threat, and the game.

Johermyn Chavez was the offensive hero for the Lugnuts, going five-for-six with two RBIs and a run scored. Chavez had two hits in the fifth inning, as Lansing scored nine runs on eight hits to take a lead they would never relinquish. The Lugnuts sent 13 men to the plate, with eight different players scoring a run in the frame.

South Bend thought they had a win wrapped up early, racing out to a big lead in the first few innings. Justin Parker had a sacrifice fly in the first, scoring A.J. Pollock for the first run of the game. Davis hit a solo home run in the second making it 2-0, and Alfredo Marte's three run homer later in the inning made it a 5-0 Hawks lead. Alberto Diaz scored on a couple of errors in the third, making it 6-1 at the time.

South Bend starter Ryan Cook (LP, 11-11) could not protect the lead however, as he was charged with seven runs over 4.2 innings. Reliever Bayron Zepeda (ND) fared no better, allowing three inherited runners to score in the fifth before giving up four of his own runs.

Even in the loss, a lot of hitting streaks were extended for South Bend. Navarro singled in the sixth inning to set a new career high with his current 12 game hitting streak. Marte's homer pushed his streak to nine games, one shy of his season high. Pollock had two singles to give him a seven game hitting streak for the second time in his short pro career, with Elmore picked up two singles to extend his streak to five games.

The Silver Hawks will play Lansing on Monday afternoon in the regular season finale at Coveleski Stadium. Game time is at 2:00 PM Eastern Time with South Bend's starter to be announced against Lansing RHP Joel Carreno (2-3, 3.38 ERA). Pregame coverage begins at 1:40 PM Eastern Time on 1620 ESPN Radio and online at www.silverhawks.com.



Midwest League Stories from September 6, 2009


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