MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Loons Win on Wild Pitch in 13th Inning

July 31, 2014 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - After four hours and nearly 13 full innings, all it took Thursday for the Great Lakes Loons was a play that happened in a flash.

The Loons defeated Fort Wayne 5-4 at Dow Diamond when Brandon Trinkwon scored on a wild pitch in the bottom of the 13th inning. It not only salvaged the three-game series for the Loons - who lost Wednesday and Thursday to the TinCaps - but salvaged a game they'd once led 4-0.

"You never feel good when you lose a lead like that, but our feeling is that we're going to keep fighting until there are no more outs on the scoreboard," said Trinkwon. "We needed this win. You never want to get swept by any team."

Trinkwon reached base in the 13th on an infield single and eventually made his way to 3rd with two outs, but only after teammate Delvis Morales was thrown out at home on an infield grounder. But Jason Jester's first pitch to Joey Curletta bounced in the dirt in front of TinCaps catcher Ryan Miller and made its way to the backstop.

And that enabled Trinkwon to scramble home, beating the throw from Miller to Jester at home plate, and touching off a full-team celebration at home plate.

"I got as big of a lead as I could at third but I didn't want to get too far down the line," said Trinkwon. "Then I saw the ball pop up and I wasn't sure at first if it got by the catcher or not. Once I saw it did, I just took off."

Besides salvaging a series and a game they seemingly had in hand, the win also was important because of the six-team Midwest League Eastern Division playoff race the Loons are in the thick of with a month left in the season. Now 18-21 in the second half, the Loons are just a half-game behind Lake County and a game behind Dayton in the race for two playoff berths.

The Loons built a four-run lead Thursday, scoring two runs in the first inning on RBI singles by Curletta and Josmar Cordero, another in the second on a sacrifice fly by Trinkwon, and another in the fifth on a Curletta double.

But the TinCaps came alive in the sixth inning against Loons starter Scott Barlow, who'd pitched five shutout innings.

After a two-out walk to Franmil Reyes, TinCaps designated hitter Adolfo Reina homered to deep left to cut the Great Lakes lead to two. Ryan Miller then followed with an even longer home run to left and the lead was down to one run.

The TinCaps then tied it in the eighth against Loons reliever Jordan Hershiser when Reina doubled home Fernando Perez from first base with one out. The Loons had a great opportunity to put the game away in the bottom of the ninth, eventually loading the bases, but Fort Wayne reliever Justin Livengood escaped with three strikeouts.

Reliever Mark Pope, who pitched the top of the 13th for the Loons was credited with the win. He's now 2-3.

The Loons begin a three-game series with Lansing tomorrow night at Dow Diamond. The Loons will start 20-year-old right-hander Zachary Bird (4-12, 4.18 ERA), and he'll be opposed by righty Starlyn Suriel, who's 0-0 with a 1.50 ERA in two appearances with the Lugnuts so far.

Friday's entertainment at the ballpark features the popular ZOOperstars! traveling inflatable entertainment act.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from July 31, 2014


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