MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Fall in Dow Diamond Homecoming

May 25, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Dayton Dragons (20-28) took an early lead with two runs in the second and added three late runs to beat the Great Lakes Loons (17-31) by a score of 5-1 on Saturday night at Dow Diamond. The game was the Loons first home contest in nine days and just the fourth home game in 19 days for Great Lakes.

The Loons got on the board early, scoring in the bottom of the first inning. Leadoff hitter Robbie Garvey reached on an infield single, advanced to second base on a Kevin Taylor walk and moved to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a groundout from Tyler Ogle, who was 2-for-4 in the game. Garvey was also 2-for-4 on the night, including a double.

"They had a guy that threw pretty hard and I knew I was going to get a lot of fastballs," Garvey said. "I figured they would come in a lot and bust me in on my hands and I was ready for it."

Dayton took the lead for good with a two-run second inning. Cleanup hitter Jesse Winker, who was 2-for-2, led off with a triple and scored on a Junior Arias single. Winker was 2-for-2, with two runs scored, and reached in all four plate appearances. Arias, who was 3-for-4 with two runs scored, came in for the second run of the inning on a single from Robert Ramirez, who was 2-for-4 on the night.

Both starting pitchers performed well. Robert Stephenson, the Reds No. 2 prospect, gave up one run on six hits in six innings, while striking out eight and walking one. Loons starter Carlos Frias, who was third in the Midwest League in ERA coming into the game, gave up two runs on six hits in 5 1/3 innings. Frias struck out four and walked two.

"I was trying to attack the strike zone," Frias said. "Early in the game that wasn't working because I didn't have a whole lot of control. So I went to my change-up and that really helped me a lot. I'm not looking to do too much when I'm on the mound. I just want to throw strikes and help my team out any way I can."

"I liked the fact that he competed all night," Loons manager Razor Shines added. "And when you compete like that, your team is going to have a chance to win a ball game. I was really proud with the way he competed."

The Dragons sealed the win with three runs in the road half of the eighth. Three-hitter Joe Terry hit a one-out double and Jesse Winker was intentionally walked to put runners on first and second. Arias hit a ground ball to Loons third baseman Leo Rodriguez, who made a nice play to get to the ball, but threw it into right field on the double play attempt. That error allowed Terry to score and Winker to advance to third. Winker scored on a wild pitch and Arias scored the third run of the inning on a Ramirez single.

"You know, for 7 2/3 innings, it was a one-run ballgame," Shines said. "I thought we played hard and we played with some energy, but it got away from us late."

The Loons are back in action on Sunday afternoon. They will play host to Dayton in the second game of a three-game series. Game time is 3:05 p.m. Ismael Guillon, the Reds No. 9 prospect, is expected to start for the Dragons, while the Loons starter is still to be determined.

Sunday is also a Family Fun in the SUNday at Dow Diamond, with a Pre-Game Youth Baseball Clinic and kids will be able to run the bases following the game.

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 May 25, 2013


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