Loons Reclaim Division Lead, Down Whitecaps 4-2

May 17, 2023 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release

Midland, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons (22-13) have jumped back on top of the Midwest League East standings after defeating the West Michigan Whitecaps (21-14), 4-1, on a chilly 53-degree Wednesday night at Dow Diamond.

Great Lakes tacked on all four of their runs in the bottom of the sixth. Taylor Young squared a leadoff double to right field, the first time the leadoff batter reached. Alex Freeland was hit by a pitch and then three walks followed. Damon Keith's and Ismael Alcantara brought home runs. With one out, Jake Vogel knocked home two runs with a single, his first multi-RBI game.

The Loons now have 15 walks in 49 plate appearances with the bases loaded this season.

Maddux Bruns made his Dow Diamond debut. The left-hander walked a career-high five Whitecaps but only permitted one run over four innings. In the top of the second, Bruns threw 21 pitches only eight strikes with three free passes. He forced a 5-4-3 double play, to complete the frame.

Through the first five innings, the Loons had just two hits. A double by Damon Keith in the fourth, extended his hit streak to seven, and an Austin Gauthier single in the fifth, made it a 24-game on-base streak for the 24-year-old.

After a 1-2-3 fifth delivered by Reinaldo De Paula, Orlando Ortiz took over. The right-hander surrendered five of the six West Michigan hits, but just one run. A double play ended the sixth, a strikeout with a runner on concluded the seventh, and a groundout to second halted the eighth.

Austin Murr doubled to try and spark a Whitecaps comeback in the ninth. Dillion Paulson, 2019 Loon, slashed an opposite-field single to plate Murr and make it 4-2. Ortiz got the next two batters, both the potential tying run, to groundout to second.

Game Three is tomorrow Thursday, May 18th, with a 6:05 first pitch. Thursday is Thirsty Thursday with 50 percent off draft beer Presented By John P. O'Sullivan Distributing.

Midwest League Stories from May 17, 2023

• TinCaps Win Third in a Row - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Loons Reclaim Division Lead, Down Whitecaps 4-2 - Great Lakes Loons
• Fort Wayne Scores 4 in 7th to Defeat Dragons 5-1 - Dayton Dragons
• 'Caps Fall from First Place in 4-2 Loss - West Michigan Whitecaps
• Early Offense Boosts Chiefs Past Kernels - Peoria Chiefs
• Early Offense Boosts Kernels Past Chiefs - Peoria Chiefs
• TinCaps Game Information: May 17 at Dayton Dragons - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Rattlers Drop Decision to Quad Cities - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
• Chiefs Score Five in the First Three Innings, Hold on to Top Kernels 6-4 - Cedar Rapids Kernels
• Cubs Cruise Past Sky Carp 10-2 - Beloit Sky Carp
• Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes Pack for Wednesday (7:05 PM Game) - Dayton Dragons
• Smash Mouth to Headline Concert at Four Winds Field on August 12 - South Bend Cubs
• Cubs Gain Game On Beloit By Crushing Sky Carp 9-4 - South Bend Cubs
• Fort Wayne Throws No-Hitter at Dayton - Fort Wayne TinCaps
• Peoria Rally Falls Short Despite Pounding out 13 Hits - Peoria Chiefs

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