MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons' Ninth-Inning Rally Falls Short

Published on May 17, 2013 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


LANSING, MI - In front of the largest crowd to witness a Great Lakes Loons game, the Lansing Lugnuts jumped out to a 3-0 lead after the first three innings and survived a ninth-inning rally to win at home, 3-1. The game was played in front of a rowdy gathering of 12,124 at Cooley Law School Stadium, the highest attended game in the six-plus seasons of Loons baseball.

Miguel Sulbaran started for the Loons and allowed two first-inning scores on three hits, including a two-run single by Kevin Patterson. The Lugnuts recorded three more singles in the third, including a run-scoring hit by Christian Lopes, to plate their final run of the game.

Sulbaran (2-2) settled down but took the loss. He was charged with three runs (all earned) in five innings. Craig Stem (two innings) and Arismendy Ozoria (one) provided three total innings of scoreless relief.

After allowing nine Loons runs in his last start, Ben White (1-3) threw 5 2/3 scoreless innings, limiting the Loons to just four hits and striking out four for his first win of 2013. Tucker Donahue, Efrain Nieves and Arik Sikula worked the final 3 1/3 innings. Sikula recorded the save despite surrendering the Loons' lone run of the game.

Kevin Taylor led off the ninth with a double to right field. Tyler Ogle followed with a single off Sikula's bare hand. Then with one out and Taylor at first, Jeremy Rathjen grounded to first to bring in the Loons' lone run of the game. Pinch hitter Eric Smith followed and flied out to deep left to end the threat and the ballgame.

Taylor finished with three hits, including the game's only extra base hit. Patterson had three hits for the home squad.

The Loons (14-26) and Lugnuts (15-23) play the second game of a four-game series Saturday evening at 7:05 p.m. Right-hander Ralston Cash (2-2, 3.71 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Loons. Lansing will opt for lefty Daniel Norris (0-3, 8.54). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM and ESPN1009.com.

The Loons are a seventh-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.

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