MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Lugnuts Walkoff with Win

Published on July 30, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


LANSING, MI - A.J. Jimenez singled past a drawn-in infield driving home the game-winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night to lead the Lansing Lugnuts to a 6-5 win over the Loons.

Sean Ochinko recorded four hits and two RBIs in the win.

The Loons led by as many as three runs in the game. With the score tied at five in the ninth, Lansing registered consecutive singles off Steve Smith (3-4) by Kevin Nolan and Ochinco. The two advanced to second and third on a ground out by Brad Glenn. Then following a meeting on the mound, the Loons elected to pitch to Jimenez, who ripped the first pitch from Smith up the middle for the game-winning hit.

After Lansing struck for two first inning runs on three straight hits by Nolan, Ochinco and Glenn, the Loons quickly took the lead in the second.

Blake Smith led off the frame with a long home run to right-center field, his 13th homer of the year. Two batters later, J.T. Wise tied the game at two with an RBI double. He later scored in the inning on a ground out by Chris Jacobs. Two innings later, the Loons extended their lead to three, their largest of the game, on a two-run home run by Brian Ruggiano.

Lansing pulled to within one with a pair of RBI singles in the fifth by Ochinko and Glenn. Both runners who scored - Justin Jackson and Nolan - had reached on walks by starter Ryan Christenson. The Lugnuts tied the game in the seventh on an RBI single by Ochinko, the third straight hit off reliever Jordan Roberts.

Christenson made his first Loons start of the season, surrendering four runs in 4 1/3 innings striking out five. Roberts was charged with a run over two relief frames. Smith was charged with the loss, surrendering the winning run in the ninth. He did strike out four in two innings.

The Loons still have the best record in professional baseball at 69-33. The loss was just their seventh in 33 second half games.

Great Lakes returns to Dow Diamond Saturday for the first game of a three-game series with the defending league champions, the Fort Wayne Tincaps. Game time Saturday is 7:05pm. The night will feature a post-game fireworks Loontacular, powered by Dow Corning. Right-hander Josh Wall (7-4, 3.50) is scheduled to start for the Loons against Fort Wayne lefty Pedro Hernandez (3-3, 3.95). Tickets are available at Loons.com or by calling 989-837-BALL.

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

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Midwest League Stories from July 30, 2010


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