MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Fall to Cedar Rapids 5-3 at Dow Diamond

April 9, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Cedar Rapids Kernels had the right man for a tall task Wednesday night at Dow Diamond.

Kernels' starting pitcher Aaron Slegers - a 6-foot-10 right-hander - cooled down a hot Great Lakes Loons offense in a 5-3 win in front of 974 fans. The Loons (4-2) came into the game averaging over eight runs per game, but Slegers limited them to one run on four hits in six innings of work.

"He worked ahead and he kept us off-balance," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "He did a nice job."

Slegers, a fifth-round pick of the Minnesota Twins last year, was the Big Ten Conference Pitcher of the Year in 2013 while at Indiana University. While not overpowering, he struck out six Loons while walking none.

Martinez pitched five innings, giving up seven hits while walking three and striking out four Cedar Rapids batters. He pitched six scoreless innings against Fort Wayne last week while striking out a career-high 11 hitters.

"He wasn't bad, he just never seemed to get comfortable on the mound for some reason," said Haselman. "But he'll bounce back" Cedar Rapids made it 5-1 in the eighth on a leadoff triple by Logan Wade and

"It's a little tough with a guy that big, but you adjust," said Loons catcher Kyle Farmer, who doubled in a run off of Slegers in the fourth inning. "He had good stuff and mixed in three good pitches."

The Kernels built a 4-0 lead off Loons starter Jonathan Martinez, who was coming off a lights-out performance in last week's season-opener in Fort Wayne. Mitch Garver hit a two-run homer off of Martinez in the second inning, and he was touched for two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Tanner Vavra and Engelb Vielma. a two-out double by Michael Quesada. But the Loons weren't quite down for the count.

Paul Hoenecke drew a one-out walk off of Cedar Rapids closer Hudson Boyd in the bottom of the ninth, and Joey Curletta followed with a sharp single to left. After a strikeout, Alex Santana doubled down the line in left, scoring two runs.

But Boyd escaped by retiring Brandon Trinkwon on a foul pop to Wade at third base.

"We got something going there in the ninth," said Haselman. "But it was just too little, too late."

The two teams conclude their series tomorrow with a 12:05 p.m., matinee at Dow Diamond. Zachary Bird will get the pitching start for the Loons, he's 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. Ryan Eades (0-1, 5.79) will start for the Kernels. It will be $1 Family Feast day, presented by Chemical Bank, meaning fans can enjoy $1 hot dogs, 16 oz. Pepsi products, ice cream sandwiches and Better Made Chips all game long.

The Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets or more information, call 989-837-BALL, or visit loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 9, 2014


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