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MWL Great Lakes Loons

Loons Bounce Back with 8-1 Wednesday Win

July 1, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - Holding the TinCaps off the scoreboard for 8 2/3 innings, the Great Lakes Loons (26-24) defeated Fort Wayne (23-26) 8-1 at Parkview Field Wednesday night. Loons outfielder Andy Pages scored four runs in a 2-for-4 night, hitting his league-best 16th homerun of the year in the eighth inning. GL reliever Landon Knack (W, 2-0) struck out five in his 4 1/3 innings, relieving starter Logan Boyer's longest outing of the year in 1 2/3 scoreless innings. The Loons offense tallied four earned runs on four hits against Fort Wayne starter Moises Lugo (L, 0-2) in 3 2/3 innings, his shortest outing of the year.

A steady offensive rout began in the top of the first inning after James Outman walked and stole second and third, able to be scored on a Ryan Ward sacrifice fly. Ward recorded his first hit with a run-scoring double in the third, plating Outman from second. After a one-run fourth, Pages brought in Deacon Liput and Ryan January, who both reached base on balls. Pages brought in two more runs with his 16th HR in the eighth to end the Loons scoring. Ryan January scored his

At 20-years-old, Pages leads all Dodgers minor-leaguers in homeruns, runs batted in, extra-base hits, hits, and runs.

Great Lakes allowed no earned runs from an effort that required three relievers, including Loons debut for Franklin De La Paz. After Boyer's season-high 1 2/3 innings start, Knack motored through the next 4 1/3 innings, allowing no runs on three hits, walking two and striking out five. Jake Cantleberry was just as effective in the next two innings, allowing no runs on two hits, walking a batter and striking out four.

In his first game in a Great Lakes uniform of 2021, De La Paz nailed the final three outs, allowing an unearned run on a throwing error from shortstop Kenneth Betancourt. De La Paz struck out two batters and walked one in his lone inning.

Loons pitchers held Fort Wayne 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position, leaving nine runners aboard. Offensively, Great Lakes 3-for-14 with runners at second and/or third, leaving 13 on-base. Closing the month of June, the Loons finished winning three of their final five games, and taking six of their final ten.

Great Lakes and Fort Wayne continue their six-game series at Parkview Field Thursday night, beginning the month of July. Thursday night features another dual of right-handers between Great Lakes' Jesus Vargas and Fort Wayne's Anderson Espinoza. Vargas leads the High-A Central with five wins this season with 40 2/3 innings recorded, which is a team-best. Espinoza holds a 6.63 earned-run average in eight previous starts, allowing 14 earned runs in 19 innings. First pitch for Thursday's action is at 7 P.M. EDT, while coverage dawns with the Loons On-Deck Circle, Built by Three Rivers, at 6:35.

Great Lakes returns to Dow Diamond following the conclusion of the Fort Wayne series on Independence Day to host Lansing for six games, beginning Tuesday, July 6. A full look at the upcoming promotional schedule can be found at Loons.com.

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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