MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Get Strong Pitching Performance in Loss to Dayton

Published on May 5, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - Newcomer Scott Barlow's near-perfection gave the Great Lakes Loons a perfect opportunity to win Monday.

Barlow, making his first start as a Loon, allowed just one baserunner in six innings - a leadoff single by Brandon Dailey in the sixth - as he dueled with Dayton's top prospect Nick Traviseo, a former No. 1 pick of the Cincinnati Reds.

But while the Dragons scored two runs off of Loons reliever Greg Harris over the final three innings, the Loons were held scoreless by Traviseo and three relievers in a 2-0 Dayton win.

"(Barlow) was great," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "He threw so well that he was fairly low on his pitch count, but we weren't going to throw him past six innings."

A Burbank, Calif., native and former 6th round draft pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers, the right-handed Barlow had Tommy John surgery on his throwing elbow in 2012 and remained in Arizona for further work when the Loons headed north after spring training.

"I feel great, but I know they want to try and limit my innings this year," said Barlow. "But it just feels good to back with a team again."

Barlow, who pitched four innings of relief against Fort Wayne in his first outing as a Loon last week, was on from the start against the Dragons. He struck out two of the first three hitters he faced and retired the first 15 batters before Dailey's sharp ground ball leading off the sixth just eluded Loons shortstop Dillon Moyer.

Barlow then retired the next three batters on fly balls, and his evening's work was done.

"The main thing tonight was fastball command," he said. "I got together with (Loons catcher) Kyle Farmer before the game and we went over the game plan and we decided that just commanding the fastball was the most important thing today."

Dayton broke the scoreless tie in the top of the seventh when Phillip Ervin tripled with two outs and came home on Daniel Mateo's double. The Dragons added another run when Tanner Rahier led off the ninth with a line drive over the leftfield wall for his fourth home run of the season.

Traviseo held the Loons scoreless for the second time this season as he allowed just three hits while walking none and striking out five on Monday. He was relieved by Dan Langfield, who pitched two shutout innings with four strikeouts, and then Evan Mitchell, who struck out two in one inning of work.

Closer Scott Brattvet came on for the Dragons in the ninth. He gave up a one-out single to Farmer - who finished with three of the Loons five hits - and another single to Joey Curletta with two outs. But Brattvet escaped by fanning pinch hitter Webster Rivas.

The Loons had an even better opportunity to score in the fourth inning. Farmer led off by doubling down the leftfield line off of Travseo and then took third on a wild pitch. Traviseo, however, struck out the next two batters and retired Justin Chigbogu on a ground ball to first.

"We had a guy on third with no out and we didn't bring him in," Haselman said. "We have to be able to execute in those situations and we haven't been very good at it lately."

The loss was the fifth in a row for the Loons, now 15-16 on the season. Dayton, which leads the Midwest League's Eastern Division, improved to 18-12. Langfield (1-0) got the win in relief while Harris (2-3) took the loss.

The series resumes tomorrow at 7:05 p.m. when young righty Jonathan Martinez (3-3, 4.50) gets the start for the Loons. He'll face the Dragons Daniel Wright (1-1, 2.08 ERA). It will be Dodgers Route of Champions Night, sponsored by ESPN 100.9-FM.

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

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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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