MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Blanked in Playoff Opener at Fort Wayne

Published on September 8, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - In a well-pitched and tight game to open the 2010 Midwest League playoffs, the Great Lakes Loons came up a run short and fell to the Fort Wayne TinCaps, 1-0, in the first game of the best-of-three first round playoff series at Parkview Field in Northern Indiana.

Everett Williams' towering solo home run to right field in the bottom of the fifth inning off Loons starter Allen Webster provided the only run of the ballgame, and lifted the TinCaps to a win despite being outhit by the Loons, 9-3.

Fort Wayne starter Matt Lollis pitched out of trouble all night, stranding at least one runner in all six of his innings. He did his most magical work in the fourth inning, keeping the Loons off the scoreboard despite having runners at first and third with no one out. Lollis scattered seven hits over six innings, walking two and striking out six.

Webster matched Lollis pitch for pitch until the fateful delivery to Williams in the fifth. After the homer, Webster walked the bases loaded but escaped the jam by getting Daniel Meeley to pop out on his final pitch of the game. Webster allowed only two hits, but walked six and struck out seven in five innings.

New TinCaps reliever Matt Branham also escaped a jam in the seventh inning to preserve the lead, getting Blake Smith to line out to right-center field with the tying run at third base. Stiven Osuna pitched a perfect eighth inning and Miles Mikolas followed with a perfect ninth for the save for Fort Wayne.

Steve Smith threw three scoreless innings in relief of Webster to close the game for the Loons. Christian Lara and Angelo Songco each had two hits for the Loons offense, which was shut out for the sixth time this season.

The two teams meet in game two of the first round series on Thursday night, but the scene shifts to Dow Diamond for the must-win contest for the Loons. Left-hander Greg Wilborn (4-2, 3.26) starts for Great Lakes opposite fellow southpaw Jose De Paula (8-5, 3.27) of Fort Wayne.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. and tickets are still available for the playoff matchup. The game will feature a post-game Fireworks Loontacular, powered by Dow Corning, and a special Dollar Family Feast Night, with $1 prices on hot dogs, 16-oz. Coca-Cola products and ice cream sandwiches, presented by Chemical Bank.

The Great Lakes Loons are a fourth-year Single-A partner 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.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from September 8, 2010


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central