History Made with Record Crowd
August 23, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL) - Great Lakes Loons News Release
MIDLAND, Mich. - History was made at Dow Diamond on Friday night. While the West Michigan Whitecaps escaped with a 1-0 win over the Great Lakes Loons, it's the fact that a new single-game attendance record was set that everyone will be talking about.
Shattering the previous record 6,671 fans were in attendance for the finale of the seven-game homestand. It's a record that stood for a little over a year as 6,383 coincidentally witnessed a Loons vs. Whitecaps game on June 14, 2018. It also wraps up a three-game stretch that totaled 15,634 fans (avg. 5,211).
Just one run was scored in the game, and unfortunately for Jose Chacin (L, 11-7) it saddled him with the loss despite going 5.2 innings with 10 strikeouts. It's a season- and career-high for the 22-year-old right-hander from Venezuela. Corey Joyce broke the scoreless deadlock in the top of the 6th with a ground ball single to left field.
Great Lakes (76-51) and West Michigan each managed five hits in the game. Chris Roller gave the Loons one their best chances at a run as a tripled with one out in the bottom of the 2nd inning. He tried to score on an infield groundball one batter later and was thrown out at home. The other came in the 4th when they loaded the bases with two outs before a strikeout to end the threat.
Mark Washington and Jasiel Alvino kept things close until the very end as they combined for 3.1 innings of hitless, shutout baseball allowing just two baserunners.
POSTSEASON AWARDS
Miguel Vargas and John Shoemaker were both named to the Midwest League Postseason All-Star roster on Friday.
Vargas became the first player to make the team since Alex Verdugo in 2015. The 19-year-old's .325 BA was the highest among any Loons players with at least 70 games played in franchise history. He becomes the 11th player to ever earn the honor.
Shoemaker becomes the second manager in team history to be named MWL Manager of the Year, joining 2010 manager Juan Bustabad.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
Aug 28: BINGO Night
Aug 29: Hockey Night w/ the Saginaw Spirit
Aug 30: Hat Giveaway
Sept 5: Midwest League Playoffs vs. Lake County Captains
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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