
Loons Sneak Away with Extra-Inning Win
August 15, 2019 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release
COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. - On a night where the Great Lakes Loons struggled to find offense early, they ultimately got the timely hits they needed to steal an 11-inning series-opening victory over the West Michigan Whitecaps 4-3.
With the Loons ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the eleventh inning, Justin Bruihl (W, 3-0) induced a liner to shortstop Leonel Valera who dove in the dirt to double off the runner who started the inning at second base. This brilliant defensive play proved to be one of the biggest plays of the night as Bruihl got the next batter, Parker Meadows, to end the game.
Luke Heyer gets credit for the game-winning hit in the eleventh inning on a run-scoring double up the right-field line. The Loons are now 7-3 in extra-inning games this season.
Whitecaps starter Robbie Welhaf was brilliant as he tied a career-high with seven innings pitched. He allowed just one run on three hits and a walk while throwing an economical 86 pitches. Through six innings, Welhaf was working on a one-hitter. Angel Reyes (L, 0-3) gave up the winning run to Great Lakes in the eleventh.
Robinson Ortiz got the start for the Loons and after struggling in his last three starts allowing 15 earned runs in less than 12 innings, Ortiz seemed to settle down with a five-inning, two-run performance on Wednesday night. The combination of Mark Washington, Aaron Ochsenbein and Bruihl tossed the final six innings without ceding an earned run.
Wednesday night's game was just the third this season for Great Lakes that went beyond 10 innings. The Loons are now 9-2 against West Michigan at Fifth Third Ballpark this season. Game two of a three-game series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT on Thursday.
UPCOMING HOMESTAND
Aug 17: Fairy Tale Kingdom Night & FIREWORKS!
Aug 18: Back to School Lunch Box Giveaway
Aug 19: Postgame Veterans Run the Bases
Aug 20: Two-fer Tuesday
Aug 21: Camels Bottle Opener Coaster Giveaway & FIREWORKS!
Aug 22: Lucky Hot Dog & Michigander Night
Aug 23: The Office Night feat. Brian Baumgartner (aka Kevin Malone)
The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.
Midwest League Stories from August 15, 2019
- Winning Streak Snapped with 4-1 Loss - Clinton LumberKings
- Patience Pays off as Bandits Slip by Snappers 3-2 - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Wolf Wills Whitecaps Win - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Captains Walk-Off Cubs 2-1 in 10th Inning - South Bend Cubs
- Late Rally Can't Save Wisconsin - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Chiefs Clinch Series Over Kane County - Peoria Chiefs
- Naylor Provides All the Offense, Including Walk-Off - Lake County Captains
- Lopez's Streak Continues, Lugnuts' Streak Ends in 12-4 Loss - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Trounce Lugnuts - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- 3-Run 7th Inning Too Much for Beloit - Beloit Sky Carp
- Rijo, Solo Shots Highlight 2-1 Victory - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Proctor Homers, Hogan Deals as Bootleggers Beat Dragons 5-1 - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Wilson's Homer Hands Cougars Series Loss - Kane County Cougars
- Hot Rods Even Series with 5-1 Win over Dragons - Dayton Dragons
- 'Caps Keep Series Alive - Great Lakes Loons
- Espada Reinstated from IL - Lansing Lugnuts
- TinCaps Game Notes: August 15 at Lansing (Game 120) - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- INF AJ Lee transferred from Tri-City to Quad Cities - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Bootleggers Game Notes - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Dayton Dragons GameDay Notes for Thursday, August 15 - Dayton Dragons
- Ballpark Preps for Latest Concert - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Cedeno Bops Chiefs Past Cougars - Kane County Cougars
- Osborne Homers, LumberKings Snap Home Skid - Clinton LumberKings
- Dragons Hold on to Win Four Hour Marathon, 4-1 in 12 Innings at Bowling Green - Dayton Dragons
- Loons Sneak Away with Extra-Inning Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Coca's RBI Single in Ninth Gets Wisconsin Past Cedar Rapids - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- Captains Drop Series Opener to Cubs - Lake County Captains
- Chiefs Beat First Place Cougars Wednesday - Peoria Chiefs
- Talley Triple Keys 5-3 Comeback Win - Lansing Lugnuts
- Snappers Secure Season Split After Rocking River Bandits - Beloit Sky Carp
- Whitecaps Wither in Extras - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Hot Rods Fall 4-1 to Dragons in 12-Inning Duel - Bowling Green Hot Rods
- Wisconsin Wins Wednesday's Opener - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Beloit Takes First Game of Series 6-2 - Quad Cities River Bandits
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
Other Recent Great Lakes Loons Stories
- Crowell Cruises to Eight K's, Pontooners Sail to 5-1 Win and Sixth Straight Victory
- Pontooners Boat Race Sky Carp 9-2 with Six-Run Sixth, Earn Fifth-Straight Win
- Wagner Walk-Off Double Finishes Six Unanswered in Comeback 6-5 10-Inning Win
- Loons Pitching K's 16 and Wagner Homers in 7-4 Win
- Decker Homers, Lugnuts Win 3-1 in Pitching Showcase

