MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Battle, Whitecaps Pull Away Late

Published on August 16, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - Kevin Ziomek came in to Saturday night's game at Dow Diamond as one of the best pitchers in the Midwest League, and he proved exactly why.

The left-hander allowed just one hit over six innings, struck out eight and picked up the win as the West Michigan Whitecaps downed the Great Lakes Loons 7-2 in front of a sold-out crowd of 5,621 on Country Western Night.

Ziomek (10-6) entered the game with a MWL-best 2.31 ERA and ranked third in strikeouts with 127. He improved both of those numbers, lowering his ERA to 2.27 and moving into a first-place tie in strikeouts with the Fort Wayne TinCaps' Kyle Lloyd at 135 for the season.

Josmar Cordero broke up Ziomek's no-hit bid in the first at-bat of the 5th inning for the Loons as he belted his 11th home run of the season. It was Cordero's second consecutive game with a home run and Ziomek's first allowed hit of the game. He had already registered two walks to that point, issuing free passes to Great Lakes' outfielder Joey Curletta.

It was a tightly-contested game throughout with the Whitecaps taking the lead for good in the 7th when Pat Leyland homered for the Whitecaps and Ross Kivett, who doubled, scored on a Javier Betancourt single. West Michigan would add four more runs in the 8th through Dominic Ficociello, Jeff Holm, Domingo Leyba and Leyland. Whitecaps standouts Holm, Leyland and Arvicent Perez each had multi-hit games, with Holm going 3-for-4 with a two singles and a double.

"We just played sloppy at the end and things got away from us a little bit," Loons manager Bill Haselman said. "For the most part, I was pleased with how we played tonight."

Newly-added Great Lakes pitcher John Richy made his MWL debut and threw four solid innings allowing just one run on four hits and striking out three.

"I just tried to go back to the basics and stick to what I know, trust my stuff and let the defense do the work," Richy said. "(Catcher Spencer Navin) and I sat down and talked before the game just to figure out what we we're both comfortable with and what our plan was. I felt really comfortable out there and I was really excited to get my first start."

Consistent pitching from the Loons bullpen wasn't in the cards with Zachary Bird (5-15) taking the loss after allowing two runs on three hits in 2 2/3 innings pitched. Michael Johnson lasted just 2/3 of an inning allowing four runs (two earned).

Paul Hoenecke, who entered the game for Jesmuel Valentin in the 8th, and Curletta were the only other Loons to get a hit in the game, with the Loons totaling three as a team.

Both teams wrap up the series Sunday afternoon (3:05 p.m.) when right-handed pitcher Scott Barlow will get the start for the Loons (26-28, 60-64) after being pushed back a day. Barlow is 6-5 with a 4.35 ERA this season and has strung together three starts where he's given up three runs or less and pitched at least five innings. The California native has struck out 89 in 93 innings and opponents are hitting .264 against him in 2014.

West Michigan (33-21, 74-50) will start Chad Green who's 5-4 with a 3.29 ERA and has struck out 114 in 120 1/3 innings pitched this season. His last start against the Loons was June 10 when he struck out seven in 5 2/3 innings pitched.

Sunday is Family Fun in the SUNday with kids having the opportunity to run the bases after the game, courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. It's also a Fellowship Day at the ballpark.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 16, 2014


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