MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Beat River Bandits, 6-2

Published on June 1, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - After surrendering two runs in the first inning, the Great Lakes Loons bounced back to defeat the Quad Cities River Bandits 6-2 Tuesday night at Dow Diamond.

Quad Cities got on the board early when outfielder Ryde Rodriguez hit a double to the left field wall that scored the team's two lead-off batters, but the runs would prove to be the only two of the night for the visiting Quad Cities team.

The Loons quickly answered the call in the second inning, which started with Brain Ruggiano reaching first on a fielding error. Two singles to left field loaded the bases for Gorman Erickson, who could sense the shift in momentum.

"It's the unseen thing in baseball," Erickson said of the change of pace. "Where a couple guys get a hit and another guy gets a hit and you come up [to bat] and you've got the momentum on your side. It's definitely a confidence booster and you just try to stay consistent and stay within yourself and do what you practice."

Erickson proceeded to hit a single to right field to score two runs to tie the game, 2-2.

"It's great anytime you can deliver and help the team out," said the Loons catcher who finished 2-for-3 at the plate. "Especially [helping] our starting pitchers, you know, being back there and catching for them all the time...it's really nice."

Later in the inning, with Rafael Ynoa stealing for second, River Bandits catcher Robert Stock threw to second base but no one was there, giving him a throwing error and the Loons the go-ahead run, scoring Austin Yount.

The Loons kept the offense going in the third on a Ruggiano double to left field that scored Jerry Sands from first. In the fourth, Erickson led off with a triple and was brought in on a single by Ynoa, who later scored on an Angelo Songco double to the left field corner.

Will Savage (5-1, 2.26) started for the Loons and pitched five scoreless innings after allowing the two runs in the first. The 25-year-old righty fanned four Bandits and walked two to net his fifth win of the year. Andy Suiter and Luis Vasquez pitched three scoreless innings of relief; Suiter struck out three.

River Bandits starter Eric Fornataro (5-3, 3.02) was tagged with the loss after allowing six runs, four earned, on eight hits over five innings of work. Relievers Chris Notti, Jesse Simpson, and Aaron Terry each pitched one scoreless inning of relief and combined for five strikeouts.

The Loons will play game two of their three-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits Wednesday at Dow Diamond. Throwing for the Loons will be RHP Elisaul Pimentel (4-3, 2.83) against the R-Bandits RHP Michael Blazek (2-2, 4.71).

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Midwest League Stories from June 1, 2010


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