MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Use Long Ball to Get First Win of 2013

April 7, 2013 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons (1-3) picked up their first win of the Razor Shines era on Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond, beating the Fort Wayne TinCaps (3-1) by a score of 8-3 to wrap up their first four-game set of the season.

The Loons scored four of their eight runs via the long ball, with three-hitter Corey Seager, cleanup hitter Paul Hoenecke and James Baldwin, the ninth man in the order, all hitting home runs in the game.

"It's good to get the first win," Seager said. "We got good pitching and strung together some hits. It was just a good team win."

Carlos Frias made the start for Great Lakes, going five innings and getting credit for the win. Frias only gave up three hits and one run, which was unearned. He struck out six and walked two.

"When you commit three errors early and you give them a run early, it's hard," Loons manager Razor Shines said. "Frias was good. He threw the ball over the plate and when you do that, you give yourself an opportunity to win."

Fort Wayne opened up the scoring in the top of the second when left fielder Alberth Martinez scored on a double from shortstop Stephen Carmon, but in the home half of the second, the Loons took the lead back with three runs in the frame.

Catcher Eric Smith hit a double to score Hoenecke and scored from third when Martinez dropped an Alexis Aguilar fly ball in left field. Aguilar, who went 2-for-4 in the game, advanced to second base on a Baldwin single, stole third base and scored the third run on a wild pitch.

Great Lakes added another run in the third when Hoenecke, who was 2-for-4 on the afternoon, lined a 1-1 pitch over the fence in right field for a 336-foot home run.

The TinCaps scored their second run of the ballgame in the road half of the sixth when first baseman Diego Goris tripled to right-center field and scored on a Brian Adams single.

In the bottom of the sixth, Baldwin, who was also 2-for-4 in the game, hit a 385-foot solo home run to right-center field and Seager hit a 390-foot two-run home run to right-center field. Those homers extended the league to 7-2.

Each team scored another run in the seventh inning. In the road half, Fort Wayne loaded the bases, but could only score one run, which came on a Dane Phillips sacrifice fly. Great Lakes got their run when Aguilar doubled to score first baseman Tyler Ogle, who was 2-for-3 in the game and reached base three times.

Zach Eflin, the San Diego Padres No. 16 prospect, made the start for the TinCaps. He went three innings and took the loss, giving up five hits and four runs, two of which were earned.

The Loons are back in action on Monday night when they open up a three-game series at Dow Diamond against the Lake County Captains (1-3). Game time is at 6:05 p.m. Jonathan Martinez will start for the Loons and Dylan Baker will start for the Captains. Baker is the No. 16 prospect in the Cleveland Indians system and is one of four Captains players that are listed among the Indians top 30 prospects, according to Baseball America.

The Great Lakes Loons are a seventh-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.

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Midwest League Stories from April 7, 2013


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