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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Advance in Midwest League Playoffs

September 11, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Jaime Pedroza hit a solo home run over the wall in right field to break a 2-2 tie in the 10th inning and give the Great Lakes Loons a 3-2 win over the Whitecaps in an elimination game in the Midwest League Playoffs Friday night at Fifth Third Ballpark. The Loons advance to play the Fort Wayne TinCaps, the top team in Minor League Baseball, in Round 2, with the first game of the series Saturday at Dow Diamond at 7:05pm.

Cole St. Clair pitched the final three innings and wiggled out of ninth and 10th inning jams to record the win in relief. The three inning stint tied for his longest outing of the year. St. Clair pitched around a bases loaded, one out jam in the ninth inning. Then in the 10th, West Michigan had runners on at first and second with one out, before St. Clair struck out 18-year old Avisail Garcia and induced a pop up by Ben Guez to Jaime Pedroza at second to end the game.

Pedroza's blast wasn't the only home run hit in the game. Loons' shortstop Dee Gordon led off the contest with an inside-the-park home run off Whitecaps' starter Luke Putknonen on a ball that was misplayed by Guez in center field. He fell down on a sharp liner up the middle that scooted past him. Gordon raced around the bases and scored just ahead of the relay throw.

Joe Becker led off the third inning with a grounder to second that was misplayed by Brandon Douglas for an error. Then with two outs, Becker scored from first on a single up the middle by Anthony Hatch that bounced off Guez's glove for an error.

But in the fifth, Douglas tripled off Loons' starter Ethan Martin - the first hit allowed by Martin - to score Guez and pull West Michigan to within a run. The Whitecaps tied the game in the seventh when Billy Nowlin walked, stole second, and scored on a throwing error by Gordon.

Hatch finished the contest with three hits. Pedroza was on base three times.

The Loons advance in the playoffs to face Fort Wayne for the Midwest League's Eastern Division championship, with Game 1 on Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Game time is 7:05pm and tickets are available at Loons.com, by calling 989-837-BALL or at the Dow Diamond ticket office. The game will feature the popular Dollar Family Feast Night promotion, presented by Chemical Bank, with $1 prices on hot dogs, ice cream sandwiches and 16 oz. sodas. Right-hander Josh Walter (10-4, 3.27 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Loons. The TinCaps have not yet decided upon a starting pitcher.

The popular Rall E. Camel - a live camel from an exotic petting zoo, who is also a Loons fan - will be in attendance posing for pictures and cheering on his favorite Minor League Baseball team.

It will be a best-of-three series against Fort Wayne with Games 2 and 3 at Parkview Field at 5:05pm and 7:05pm ET, respectively. All games will be broadcast on the flagship home for Loons Baseball, ESPN 100.9-FM and online at Loons.com.

The Great Lakes Loons are the third-year Single-A affiliate 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 September 11, 2009


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