MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Lugnuts Walkoff with Wacky, Lengthy Win

Published on July 4, 2014 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


LANSING, MI - They couldn't wait any longer.

It was July 4th and the citizens of Lansing wanted to see a fireworks show. So even though the Great Lakes Loons and Lansing Lugnuts were still locked in a scoreless duel deep into extra innings, the City of Lansing proceeded with their Independence Day fireworks show, displayed in the darkened sky above and beyond the right field fence. The patriotic display divided the attentions of 11,409 fans at Cooley Law School Stadium.

But the game continued.

It remained scoreless through 13 well-defended and well-pitched innings. It seemed it would stay 0-0 with two outs in the top of the 13th when Webster Rivas singled through the left side of the infield. Bill Haselman, sensing his team was running low on pitching (he had second baseman Brandon Trinkwon throwing in the bullpen) and had to make something happen, opted to use Jacob Scavuzzo as a pinch runner. Reliever Adaric Kelly unleashed a wild pitch moving the fresh legs into scoring position. Then Josmar Cordero drove a single through the left side - nearly identical to Rivas' single earlier in the frame. Chaz Frank's throw home sailed high of his catcher, and Scavuzzo did something that no player for either team had done all game.

He scored a run.

But for the Loons, there were still three more outs to get. Haselman opted to use Mark Pope, who had retired all six Lugnuts he had faced. But Pope had not pitched more than two innings in a game all season. The ordinarily-reliable reliever surrendered a leadoff single to Matt Dean. Then the Loons' ordinarily-reliable defense - first in the Midwest League entering the game and without an error at that point in the game - faltered. Trinkwon mishandled a weakly hit groundball hit by Mitch Nay. Then with the bases loaded and one out, Jason Leblebijian hit a ground ball on the right side. Moyer attempted to make an acrobatic throw to the plate but it was late and off the mark, and the Lugnuts tied the score. Then Mike Reeves hit a soft grounder to Trinkwon, who hesitated before flipping the ball to second to get a force out. The hesitation prevented the Loons from turning a double play (he also had the option of throwing home), and gave the Lugnuts a 2-1, 14-inning triumph. Members of the home team leapt with joy in a huddle formed near first base with a combination of excitement and exasperation emoting.

Pope (1-2) was charged with one earned and one unearned run for the loss. Victor Arano (five innings), Kyle Hooper (two), Jordan Hershiser (two) and Matt Campbell (two) all kept the Lugnuts from scoring.

Kelly (1-3) allowed the lone Loons run in his two innings of relief, yet was credited with the victory. Starter Shane Dawson (five) combined with relievers Scott Silverstein (2 2/3) and Phil Kish (4 1/3) to pitch scoreless baseball.

Through 13 innings, there were more ejections than runs in the game as tensions ran high in both dugouts. Lansing hitting coach Ken Huckaby was enraged by a pickoff call by base umpire Nate Caldwell and was tossed in the 10th inning. Loons second baseman Jesmuel Valentin earned an early exit for the second straight game. He was deemed guilty of arguing balls and strikes from the dugout by plate umpire Adrian Gonzalez.

The Loons managed just seven hits in the game. Lansing had nine, including four by leadoff man Anthony Alford.

The Loons and Lugnuts continue their three-game series Saturday evening at 7:05pm. The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM. Right-handed pitcher Greg Harris (6-5, 4.81) is slated to start for the Loons against Lansing will start lefty Brent Powers, who is 2-2 with a 6.46 ERA in Midwest League play this season, although all but one of his 16 appearances came with the Beloit Snappers.

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