Loons' Hernandez Wins One for The Mothers
Published on May 8, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release
MIDLAND, MI - Down to the final out in the ninth inning with the game-winning run on third base, Bryant Hernandez hit a ground ball single into centerfield to give the Great Lakes Loons the 3-2 walk-off win on Mother's Day at Dow Diamond over the Bowling Green Hot Rods.
With the teams tied at two runs apiece, Hernandez, batting ninth, approached the plate for the fourth time and had to dodge some of Hot Rods reliever Eliazer Suero's pitches before getting the one he wanted.
"He threw one behind my back and he did that in one of my other at-bats as well, so I didn't know what was coming," Hernandez said after the game. "But I just try and stay calm in that situation and look for something in the middle, and that's what I got. I said to myself, âthat one's for all the mothers and my mom'."
Hernandez, who went two-for-three on the day, helped put the Loons on the board early with a double in the third inning. The hit was the Loons first of the game and scored catcher Michael Pericht, who was hit by pitch to lead-off the inning. The Loons grabbed another run in the bottom of the fourth inning as Nick Akins and Bobby Coyle each lead-off with singles. Akins was able to come around for to score on Pericht's fielder's choice ground out, granting the Loons a 2-0 advantage.
Loons starting pitcher Garrett Gould threw six scoreless innings for the Loons, limiting the Hot Rods to just two hits while striking out seven and walking one. Gould improved his ERA to 1.59 with his efforts Sunday, which ranks sixth best among qualifying Midwest League pitchers. Reliever Bret Montgomery entered the game in the seventh and ran into trouble, surrendering three hits for two runs in the inning. Hot Rods catcher Kyle Holloway doubled off Montgomery for the visiting team's only two runs of the game.
Montgomery returned for the Loons in the eighth where he sent down the H-Rods for a 1-2-3 inning. Logan Bawcom pitched in the ninth, striking out two, to pick up his second win of the year. Hot Rods reliever Suero was charged with the loss, his first.
The Loons will get up bright and early to play the final game of their three-game series against the Bowling Green Hot Rods Monday for the Loons first School Kids Day scheduled to start at 10:35 p.m. RHP Red Patterson (2-2, 3.48) will start for the Loons opposite RHP C.J. Riefenhauser (2-2, 2.54). Traveling Paleontologist Paleo Joe will be making an appearance at the game as well.
Midwest League Stories from May 8, 2011
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- Kings Miss Chance in Eighth, Fall to Bees - Clinton LumberKings
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- TinCaps Defeated by South Bend, 6-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Loons' Hernandez Wins One for The Mothers - Great Lakes Loons
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- Full Speed Ahead as Lugnuts Loot Captains - Lansing Lugnuts
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- Whitecaps Break Out Sitcks To Down Dragons - West Michigan Whitecaps
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