Loons Lose Second Straight

August 29, 2010 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release

COMSTOCK PARK, MI - Whitecaps DH Alexis Espinoza has struggled this season, except when he faces the Loons. Loons pitcher Greg Wilborn has dominated Midwest League hitters since his promotion, except when he's on the road.

Sunday afternoon at Fifth Third Ballpark, West Michigan struck for three first inning runs against Great Lakes starter Wilborn and Espinoza homered and drove in three in the Whitecaps' 8-1 win over the Loons.

The Loons did not score until the seventh when Chris Jacobs extended his current hitting streak to nine with a double scoring Blake Smith. Caps starter Patrick Cooper took a shutout into the seventh and improved to 2-1, allowing one run and three hits in 6 2/3 innings. The start comes one outing after surrendering seven earned runs in 4 1/3 innings at Dow Diamond Tuesday.

West Michigan finished the game with 13 hits to the Loons' five. Wade Gaynor drove in two and had two doubles. Avisail Garcia finished with three hits.

Espinoza finished with two hits. His opposite-field double in the seventh put an exclamation point on the victory. This season in eight games against the Loons, Espinoza is hitting .364 with three of his four home runs and half of his 24 RBIs. Against all other teams this year, he's batting just .214 in 54 games.

Wilborn's road struggles continue. He has not allowed a run at Dow Diamond, but has a 7.24 ERA in three road starts in the Midwest League. Sunday he surrendered four earned runs and nine hits over five frames to fall to 4-2.

Five WM players had a multi-hit game. Smith was the lone Loons player with more than one hit.

The Loons (84-47 overall, 41-21 second half) and Whitecaps (59-72, 33-29) continue their four-game series Monday at 7pm. The Loons will start workhorse right-hander Josh Wall (8-6, 3.76 ERA), currently tied for second in the league in strikeouts and third in innings. The Whitecaps are slated to start righty Trevor Feeney (10-12, 3.44). The game will be broadcast on ESPN 100.9-FM and online at Loons.com.

The Great Lakes Loons are a fourth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

Midwest League Stories from August 29, 2010

• Kernels snap streak against River Bandits, 5-2 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Loons Lose Second Straight - Great Lakes Loons
• LumberKings Split DH in Peoria - Clinton LumberKings
• Slow and Steady Wins It for Snappers - Burlington Bees
• Rattlers Survive 14 Walks To Beat Cougars In Eleven - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Chiefs Split Sunday Doubleheader - Peoria Chiefs
• Cougars Lose a Thriller in 11 Innings - Kane County Cougars
• Lugnuts overpower Dragons, stay four games back - Lansing Lugnuts
• Snappers Pound out 19 Hits in Victory - Beloit Sky Carp
• Big Albert Leads Hot Rods Past Caps 7-5 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• TinCaps fall to Hot Rods, 7-5 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Dragons Lose in Lansing, 8-3 - Dayton Dragons
• Bandits Fall 5-2 to Cedar Rapids - Quad Cities River Bandits
• Cooper, 'Caps Keep Rolling - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Playoff Hopes on Life Support for Silver Hawks After Loss - South Bend Silver Hawks
• Bees undone by pair of ninth inning errors - Burlington Bees
• Whitecaps Widen Playoff Lead - Great Lakes Loons
• Morrison Goes 50/50 On Saturday Night - Bowling Green Hot Rods
• TinCaps lock up playoff bid, win 3-2 - Fort Wayne TinCaps

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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