MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Edged Out by S-Hawks

Published on June 26, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons 19-game winning streak against South Bend was brought to an end Saturday night at Dow Diamond, in a see-saw 7-6 loss to the Silver Hawks.

The first run came in the top of the fourth inning, when South Bend's Ramon Castillo knocked a home run off of the Loons starter Brett Wallach. The Loons leveled the game 1-1 in the bottom of the fourth, finding their first hit of the ball game-a single to right field from Blake Smith that Alberto Diaz let get by for his seventh error of the season to score Christian Lara from first.

Wallach twirled two strikeouts in the fifth inning to total a career-high 11 on the night, but the achievement was overshadowed by how he finished the inning. The 21-year-old righty walked Bobby Borchering to load the bases and then surrendered a three-run double to Matt Davidson, ending his night with the S-Hawks up 4-1.

"The first four innings felt good, but I kind of lost the feel in [the fifth]," Wallach said after the game. "But I'll still take the outing, especially with 11 Ks. My stuff felt good, I just kind of lost it a little bit at the end."

Wallach finished with four earned runs on five hits over 4.2 innings before being relieved by Edwin Contreras, who surrendered two runs on two hits in 1.1 innings of work.

The Loons answered in the bottom of the inning, as Gorman Erickson cut the lead in half with his single off the glove of first baseman Ramon Castillo to score Brian Ruggiano. The Loons then took their first lead with Angelo Songco's three-run homer.

The Silver Hawks tied the game in the sixth with an RBI-double from shortstop Victor Estevez and then grabbed the go-ahead run courtesy of a wild pitch from Contreras that brought in Matt Helm from third.

Again the Loons fought back as Smith led off the sixth with a single to left field and was advanced to second on the walk to Jaime Ortiz. Ruggiano grounded a ball to South Bend second baseman David Nick, who tossed it to Estevez for the force at second. Then in an attempt to turn a double play, Estevez chucked the ball over first baseman Castillo that allowed Smith to score the game-tying run.

Unfortunately for the Loons, South Bend got the last laugh as designated hitter Matt Davidson crushed a home run off of Steve Smith for the game-winning solo homer. The homer pitted Smith as the game's losing pitcher, allowing three hits and fanning four S-Hawks through three innings.

Picking up the win was South Bend starter Brad Gemberling (2-4, 4.60), who allowed six runs, four earned, on five hits over six innings of work. Yonata Ortega notched his 14th save after pitching a scoreless ninth inning.

The Loons will play the rubber game of their three-game series against the Silver Hawks on Sunday. Pitching for Great Lakes will be RHP Allen Webster (6-5, 3.11), while South Bend will bring RHP Diogenes Rosario (3-2, 2.35) to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 3:05 p.m., with gates opening at noon for the Loons final pre-game Youth Clinic this year, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance.

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.

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Midwest League Stories from June 26, 2010


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