MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Fall 13-4 in Sunday Matinee

Published on July 14, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons (42-52, 15-9) dropped the second game of a three-game series against the Peoria Chiefs (49-41, 11-12), falling by a score of 13-4 in a Sunday afternoon game at Dow Diamond. Great Lakes was in the game for most of the contest, but allowed eight runs in the ninth inning to seal their fate. The Loons remain in a tie for first place in the Eastern Division with a loss by the Bowling Green Hot Rods on Sunday.

"We've bounced back all year," Loons manager Razor Shines said. "Obviously, a loss is a loss, whether it's 2-1 or 13-4. A loss is a loss. We'll prepare tomorrow and we'll play hard."

Peoria third baseman Breyvic Valera scored the first run of the game in the top of the second inning, coming home on an infield single from nine-hitter Gerwuins Velazco.

The Loons took the lead in the third inning, pushing across three runs in the frame. Jeremy Rathjen led off the frame with a double and advanced to third base on a Jose Capellan single before scoring on a single from leadoff hitter Robbie Garvey. After a Kevin Taylor sacrifice bunt that advanced Capellan and Garvey, the Chiefs intentionally walked Corey Seager to face Tyler Ogle. Ogle, who was 1-for-1 with three walks, drew a bases-loaded walk to give Great Lakes a 2-1 lead. Ogle reached base in every at-bat on Sunday.

"Ely (Loons hitting coach Mike Eylward) and I have been working on getting my foot down quicker so that I can see the ball better," Ogle said. "It worked out today. I could see the ball well, but I just wasn't getting the right pitches to swing at most of the time."

Garvey scored the third run of the inning, coming home because Peoria shortstop Ildemaro Vargas made a fielding error on an Aaron Miller ground ball, keeping the Chiefs from turning an inning-ending double play.

Chiefs three-hitter Jacob Wilson and cleanup hitter Jordan Walton hit back-to-back doubles in the fifth inning to tie the game at 3-3. Wilson doubled to score Charlie Tilson and then came home on Walton's double.

Both starting pitchers went six innings and kept their teams in the game. Loons starter Brandon Martinez gave up three runs on seven hits, while striking out two and walking two. Brad Watson (2-2) was the starter for Peoria and gave up three runs on six hits, while striking out four and walking three. Watson got the win for the Chiefs.

"I tried to keep my approach the same, but I made some mistakes today when it came to pitch selection and they took advantage of it," Martinez said. "My outing today could have better, but at the same time, it could have been worse."

Peoria jumped back in front in the top of the seventh. Tilson reached first base on a Seager throwing error to start the inning, stole second base and advanced to third on a groundout before scoring on a wild pitch.

C.J. McElroy, Peoria's leadoff hitter, got an infield single in the eighth to score Vargas, putting the Chiefs' lead at 5-3.

Scott Griggs (2-7), the Dodgers No. 18 prospect, threw two innings and gave up two unearned runs on two hits, while striking out two and walking two, to take the loss for Great Lakes.

The Loons picked up one run in the bottom of the eighth, with Corey Seager coming home on a wild pitch. Tyler Ogle moved up to third base on the wild pitch, but was stranded at third after Brandon Dixon and James Baldwin struck out.

The Chiefs scored eight runs in the top of the ninth inning to seal the win. Valera singled to left field to drive in Walton for the first run of the frame. Valera and Jeremy Schaffer scored on a Nick Martini double. Martini was driven in by a Velazco single and Velazco came around on a Tilson single. Jordan Walton put an exclamation point on the inning with a 380-foot three-run home run to right field to extend Peoria's lead to 13-4.

Zach Russell picked up his second save of the season for the Chiefs. Russell entered the game in the bottom of the eighth inning in what ended up being a save situation. He struck out Dixon and Baldwin in the eighth, and pitched the ninth to finish the game for Peoria.

The Loons and the Chiefs will wrap up their three-game series on Monday night at Dow Diamond. Game time is 7:05 p.m. Julio Urias (2-0, 2.70 ERA) is expected to start for Great Lakes. The projected starter for Peoria is Cory Jones (5-1, 1.02), a 6-foot-5, 225-pound righty. It is a Social Media Monday and it is also Bark in the Park Night at Dow Diamond.

The Great Lakes Loons are a seventh-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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Midwest League Stories from July 14, 2013


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.

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