MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Rally from 8-3 Deficit to Defeat Fort Wayne

April 22, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich - Even on a night when the Great Lakes Loons set another team record for stolen bases, their resiliency was what mattered most.

The Loons scored seven runs in the bottom of the seventh inning Tuesday, erasing an 8-3 Fort Wayne lead, and went on to a wild 11-8 win at Dow Diamond. The win was their eighth in their last nine games and improved their record to 12-6.

"We know that we have one of the best offenses in the league," said second baseman Jesmuel Valentin, whose bases-loaded triple in the seventh was the game's biggest hit. "We just take it inning by inning, batter by batter."

Valentin also had two stolen bases - and it only seemed like everyone else in the Loons' lineup had that many, as well. The Loons swiped eight bags in all, setting a single-game record they'd set only last week. They've now stolen 50 bases in 18 games, tying the franchise mark for a single month.

"That's how we want to play ... we just want to keep putting pressure on the other team," Haselman said. "Until this league figures out how to stop it, we're going to keep doing it."

The Loons had to figure out how to stop the bleeding Tuesday after watching an early 3-1 lead dissolve as the TinCaps scored three runs in the fourth inning, and two each in the sixth and seventh. Three of Fort Wayne's runs scored on wild pitches, but they also had plenty of punch with 13 hits - including a home run to left center into the teeth of a strong, cold win by Dustin Peterson in the sixth inning.

"That was a hard hit ball," said Haselman. "This was not an easy night to hit one out of the park."

Loons starter Zachary Bird gave up four earned runs in four innings and was replaced by James Baune, who gave up four more in three innings. But neither figured in the final decision, thanks to the Loons' decisive seventh inning.

Valentin led off the inning with a single off Fort Wayne reliever Genison Reyes, then scored one out later on a single by Jacob Scavuzzo. A single by Kyle Farmer - who had three hits for the second night in a row - and a walk to Paul Hoenecke loaded the bases. The No. 5 hitter, Joey Curletta, lined out to short for the second out, but Justin Chigbogu singled to right to score two runs and cut Fort Wayne's lead to two.

Alex Santana then singled in a run to make it 8-7, and after a walk to Brandon Trinwon, Valentin came up for the second time in the inning and lined a fastball deep into the gap in right to score three more runs. "I had to tell myself to stay calm and look for my pitch to hit," Valentin said. "He came inside with the pitch, where I like it, and I was able to make good contact."

"Great at bat," Haselman said. "He really drove that ball. I mean, he's not a big guy but he has some pop in his bat."

The Loons added another run in the eighth, on an RBI single by Curletta, while relievers Francisco Villa and Mark Pope combined to pitch two perfect innings. The win went to Baune (1-0) while Pope earned his second save of the season.

Reliever Erik Cabrera (0-1) took the loss for Fort Wayne. The TinCaps are now 7-10 on the season and have lost five of six games against the Loons.

The third game of the series is scheduled for Wednesday at 6:05 p.m. The Loons will start right-hander James Campbell (0-1, 6.75 ERA), while Fort Wayne will counter with lefty Payton Baskette (0-0, 1.84). It will Hump Day Happy Hour at Dow Diamond in which fans 21-over can purchase $2 16 oz. select drafts from gates open to one hour after the scheduled game time. Fans can also compete in the College Night Challenge for a chance to win a $200 prize pack.

The Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets or more information about the team, call 989-837-BALL, or visit loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from April 22, 2014


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