MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Shut out by Clinton Again

July 17, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - Even the season's largest crowd at Dow Diamond couldn't pull the Great Lakes Loons out of their funk Thursday.

The Loons were shut out for the second straight game - while losing their sixth game in a row - as visiting Clinton posted a 5-0 win before 5,777 fans. As they did in Wednesday's loss to the LumberKings, also by a score of 5-0, the Loons got shaky starting pitching and fell behind early.

The losing streak ties the longest of the season for the Loons, now 11-15 in the Midwest League's second half and 45-51 overall. Clinton improved to 10-16 in the second half, 40-54 overall.

Loons pitcher Victor Arano, who's been one of his team's most consistent starters in the last month, gave up four runs and 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings of work; only decent damage control kept the run total from climbing any higher. Arano gave up solo home runs to Jeff Zimmerman and Luis Caballero in the fourth inning as the LumberKings added to a 2-0 lead.

The Loons scoreless streak, meanwhile, stretched to 19 innings as they had only four hits against Clinton pitchers Edwin Diaz, Paul Fry and Seon Gi Kim. Diaz, the No. 4 ranked prospect in the Seattle Mariners' organization according to mlb.com, scattered three hits over six scoreless innings and struck out eight batters.

Great Lakes advanced runners as far as second base only twice - Malcolm Holland singled and stole second in the first, while Brandon Trinkwon doubled in the fifth - but couldn't capitalize either time.

Clinton got excellent production out of the top of its lineup. Leadoff hitter Aaron Barbosa reached base in all five of his at bats, while No. 3 hitter Chantz Mack had two hits and two walks. Barbosa led off the game with a double and later scored, while Mack doubled in the third and came home on Marcus Littlewood's single.

Barbosa also walked and scored a run in the seventh inning.

Arano (4-4) took the loss for the Loons. Relievers Jordan Hershiser, Kyle Hooper, Michael Johnson and Matt Campbell combined to give up only one hit and one earned run over the final 6 1/3 innings.

The two teams conclude their three-game series Friday night (7:05 p.m.). Right-hander Jonathan Martinez (7-5, 3.59 ERA) will go for his team-leading eighth victory for the Loons, while Clinton will start righty Jose Flores (2-1, 4.24).

Tomorrow is Loons Latino Night at Dow Diamond and will also feature a Fireworks Loontacular, powered by Dow Corning.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 17, 2014


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