MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Fall to Cedar Rapids in Series Finale at Dow Diamond

Published on April 10, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - For the second consecutive game, the Great Lakes Loons found themselves facing an early deficit that was too much to overcome.

The visiting Cedar Rapids Kernels built a 7-0 lead through four innings and cruised to an 11-2 win in a matinee game Wednesday at Dow Diamond. The loss dropped the Loons to 4-3 on the season.

The Kernels had 11 hits off of three Loons pitchers, but also took advantage of two errors to win the deciding game of a three-game series. Cedar Rapids built an early four-run advantage to win Tuesday night's game.

"We just played very sloppy," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "We made some mistakes defensively, threw to the wrong base and stuff like that, but it's what you expect sometimes at this level. "We'll work on those things and come back ready to play tomorrow."

The Loons begin a three-game home series tomorrow night against defending Midwest League champion Quad Cities. Game time Friday is 6:05 p.m. at Dow Diamond.

Cedar Rapids touched Loons starter Zachary Bird for two runs in the first inning, one which came home on a single by Bryan Haar, then added another run in the third on a seeing-eye single by Jason Kanzler. The Kernels broke it open with four runs in the fourth as their lead grew to seven runs.

Bird, now 0-2, pitched 3.1 innings, allowing 5 hits, 6 earned runs, while hitting a batter and throwing a wild pitch. He also walked 2 and struck out 2.

"I thought he started out well but some things happened defensively and he didn't handle it very well," said Loons pitching coach Bill Simas. "But he's going to be fine."

The Loons offense, so potent through the season's first four games, scored only five runs in the final two games of the series with the Kernels. Cedar Rapids starter Ryan Eades (1-1) pitched 7 strong innings, giving up 6 hits while striking out 5 and walking none.

The Loons only run off of Eades came in the fifth inning. Joey Curletta led off with a double, and came home with two outs when Kernels first baseman Mitch Garver misplayed a routine ground ball. Curletta finished with three hits, hiking his batting average to a team-high .423.

Cedar Rapids scored a single run off of Loons reliever Brandon Martinez in the fifth inning, and added three more in the ninth off of left-handed reliever Jack McGeary. The Loons scored their final run in the ninth when Kyle Farmer had a leadoff walk, took third on Paul Hoenecke's single, and then scored when Curletta singled.

Alex Santana added two doubles for the Loons, giving him three in the last two games.

James Campbell will start Friday series opener against Quad Cities. Campbell pitched 4 innings in his first start last week against Fort Wayne. He's 0-0 with a 4.50 ERA. He'll face the River Bandits Adrian Houser.

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

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Midwest League Stories from April 10, 2014


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