MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Rally But Fall Short at Dow Diamond

Published on July 2, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons spotted South Bend five early runs Wednesday and it proved to be too much. But not by a lot.

The Loons battled back to cut the Silver Hawks lead to one, then couldn't go any further in an eventual 5-4 loss at Dow Diamond. It was ninth loss in 11 games this season to South Bend for the Loons, who are now 6-7 in the Midwest League's second half.

"Our guys did a nice job of battling back," said Loons manager Bill Haselman. "You have to give them credit for that. But we also had some situations where we could have scored some more runs, manufacture some things, and we didn't get it done".

South Bend struck early against Loons starter Brandon Martinez and it was a usual suspect doing the damage. The Silver Hawks Daniel Palka homered to deep right centerfield with two out in the first - his eighth home run against the Loons this season and 17th overall.

They added four more runs in the fourth on a home run by Breland Almadova and run-scoring doubles by Chuck Taylor, Joe Munoz and Stryker Trahan.

Martinez then gave way to reliever Ralston Cash, who retired the next two batters to begin a shutdown performance by the Loons bullpen. Cash, Kyle Hooper, Matt Campbell and Victor Araujo combined to pitch 6 2/3 hitless, shutout innings to leave the door open for a possible Loons comeback.

And the Loons nearly did comeback; they scored twice in the third inning on a double by Brandon Trinkwon and a sacrifice fly by Joey Curletta. Curletta singled in two more runs in the fifth inning off of South Bend starter Blake Perry, who then gave way to his team's bullpen - which was similarly effective as the Loons' pen.

Not that the Loons didn't have more chances to take their comeback another step. Jesmuel Valentin singled to lead off the seventh and took second when Trahan misplayed the ball in rightfield. But Silver Hawks reliever Nickolas Sarianides retired Trinkwon and Curletta on pop flies to second, and Paul Hoenecke on a fly ball to center.

Left-hander Daniel Gibson then pitched a scoreless eighth for South Bend while Silvino Bracho had a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 15th save. Reliever Johnny Shuttlesworth (2-2) was credited with the win.

Martinez saw his record drop to 1-4 with the loss. Cash, Hooper, Campbell and Araujo combined to strike out nine batters while only walking two. "Our bullpen was very good again," said Haselman.

The two teams wrap up their three-game series tomorrow night (7:05 p.m.) on a Fireworks LOONtacular night at Dow Diamond. Right-hander Scott Barlow (2-3, 3.96 ERA) will start for the Loons and will face South Bend lefty Hector Hernandez (5-3, 3.71 ERA). It will also be Hawaiian Luau Night and $1 Family Feast Night at the ballpark.

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 July 2, 2014


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