MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Rally Twice in Double Dip

Published on July 24, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons found two wins against the Clinton LumberKings Friday night at Dow Diamond to complete the sweep over the Western division's third place team, winning 6-3 in game one and 3-2 in game two.

The Loons fell behind 3-0 in game one, as starting pitcher Matt Magill surrendered two home runs in the top of the fourth inning. But the Loons responded with two home runs of their own in the bottom of the inning. Angelo Songco belted a home run to left field on the first pitch of the inning. Blake Smith reached first on a hit batsmen, his second of the game, and was brought in by a home run from Brian Cavazos-Galvez, who recorded his 20th consecutive game with a hit for a Loons franchise-record.

"It just feels good," Cavazos-Galvez said of his record-setting streak. "I mean there's some great players [who had done the same], Dee Gordon and Eduardo Perez, and to get my name up there with those guys [on a home run] is pretty special."

Later in the inning, Loons third baseman Brian Ruggiano hit a triple to score Jaime Ortiz and then advanced home on a throwing error from Gabriel Noriega to put the home team up 5-3. Nick Buss contributed to the Loons lead with a solo home run in the fifth. Matt Magill (5-2, 3.46) ended the night with the win, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. Right-handed reliever Steve Ames pitched a hitless seventh to earn his seventh save of the year.

In game two, the LumberKings again were the first team to score, finding a run in the third inning on a solo homer by center fielder Daniel Carroll, his seventh.

With the bases loaded in the fourth, second baseman Rafael Ynoa preserved the scoreless frame and got the Loons out of a jam by fielding a sharp grounder up the middle before it rolled into centerfield. He then threw the ball across his body to first base to make the put out to end the inning.

The Loons offense found their rally in the fifth inning, when two walks from L-Kings starter Jimmy Gillheeney and a Rafael Ynoa single loaded the bases with two outs. Blake Smith was up next to bat and ripped a double to left field that scored all three runners. Cavazos-Galvez singled on the next at-bat to extend his hit streak to 21 games, but the inning concluded on the play when Smith was beat out on a throw home, Loons up 3-1.

Things got a bit dramatic in the seventh inning with closer Luis Vasquez mounting the rubber. The right-handed Dominican walked the lead-off batter, then pitched lefty James Jones into a liner that Brian Ruggiano pounced on for a big out in foul territory. Vasquez fanned Nick Franklin, but then allowed two singles to load the bases. Vasquez proceeded to walk Mario Martinez to make it 3-2, but held on to notch his 17th save, recording the final out on a 5-3 groundout.

Edwin Contreras started for the Loons and allowed one run on four hits over four innings pitched before Andy Suiter stepped in for relief to record three strikeouts in 1.2 scoreless innings. Suiter picked up the win, his fourth of the season.

On Saturday, the Loons will host the Single-A affiliates of the Oakland Athletics, the Kane County Cougars. Starting for the Loons will be RHP Elisaul Pimentel (8-3, 3.27) against Kane County's LHP Ian Krol (7-3, 2.26). After the game on Saturday, Dow Diamond will host another Fireworks Loontacular, powered by Dow Corning. Prior to fireworks will be the MBS Ball Launch.

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.

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Midwest League Stories from July 24, 2010


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