MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Pull out Another Close Win against Lugnuts

Published on June 30, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - Great Lakes Loons reliever Matt Campbell earned his first professional save Monday without even realizing it.

Campbell, the 9th round pick of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the June major league baseball draft out of Clemson University, pitched a perfect ninth to secure a 2-1 win over Lansing at Dow Diamond - while thinking it was the eighth inning the entire time.

Not that the Loons - who improved to 6-5 in the second half - minded.

"After the last out I saw Webster (Rivas) running toward the middle of the diamond and I was like, 'Hey, what are you doing?' said Campbell. "Then I looked up at the scoreboard and saw a zero under the ninth inning."

"Maybe that's a good thing," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "But that game moved so fast I can understand it."

Monday's game was over in a brisk 2 hours and 13 minutes thanks to strong, efficient pitching from both sides. Loons starter Jonathan Martinez, who earned his team-high seventh win, pitched six innings and allowed just one run while walking none. Reliever Mark Pope pitched two scoreless innings before giving way to Campbell, who retired the Lugnuts in order in the ninth.

The Loons scored two early runs off of Lansing's 30-year-old knuckleballer Frank Viola III, who was relieved after only three innings. Lugnuts relievers Phil Kish and Brady Dragmire combined to pitch five scoreless innings.

Webster Rivas had the game's big hit - a two-run, two-out single off of Viola in the bottom of the third with the bases loaded.

"It's tough to hit," said Rivas of Viola's knuckler, "because all you're used to seeing is fastball, fastball, fastball."

The Loons had faced Viola twice before and failed to score a run against him in 10.2 total innings. They finally broke through against him Monday, though Haselman said his stuff was better this time around.

"I thought his knuckler was moving even more than it did the other times we faced him," said Haselman. "He was keeping it right around 65 (mph) and it had great movement. I was glad they took him out, to be honest."

The Lugnuts scored their lone run in the fourth inning but could have had more. Doubles by Mitch Nay, Dawel Lugo and Dickie Joe Thon produced only a single run, thanks in part to quick defensive plays at the wall by outfielders Alex Santana and Jacob Scavuzzo which twice prevented a runner on second from advancing past third on a double. Pope, who saw his ERA drop to 0.60 on the season, gave up a two-out triple to D.J. Davis in the seventh, but struck out Matt Dean swinging to end the threat.

The Loons begin a three-game homestand Tuesday night against the South Bend Silver Hawks. Zachary Bird (4-9, 4.09 ERA) gets the start for the Loons, while John Omahen (3-2, 3.41) will be South Bend's starting pitcher. Tomorrow is Dodgers Route of Champions night at Dow Diamond, presented by ESPN 100.9-FM.

The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A 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 June 30, 2014


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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