Pitching Takes Center Stage in Loons Win
June 6, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release
MIDLAND, Mich. - The Midwest League dishes out playoff berths to the top two teams in both the Eastern and Western Divisions following the completion of the 1st half of the season. The Great Lakes Loons are making a strong push to be one of those teams to come out of the East.
Victor Gonzalez turned in a strong start and J.D. Underwood was impenetrable out of the bullpen as Great Lakes downed the Burlington Bees 4-3 on Saturday at Dow Diamond. With the win, it makes four consecutive victories and nine out of their last 10 games for the Loons.
"We're getting hot at the right moment," said Loons manager Luis Matos said. "They always say it's not how you start, but how you finish. We are pitching good, hitting good, playing good defense, when you put that all together you start to get on these winning streaks."
Despite a tumultuous 3rd inning in the field, Gonzalez (1-5) turned in a quality start that Great Lakes needed in order to have a chance to keep their winning ways intact. He allowed three runs on four hits in six innings of work. The left-hander struck out five batters en route to his first win of 2015.
Underwood, named a MWL East All-Star on Thursday, was excellent in three frames of relief. He did not allow a hit and struck out the first three batters he faced on just nine pitches, an "Immaculate Inning," leading to his first save of the season. The only blemish was a walk with two outs in the 9th.
"It's tough to beat a three-pitch inning, but nine pitches and three strikeouts, it's tough to beat that," Underwood said. "I was just getting ahead, that was the big thing for me. It's important to get that first pitch so you can relax and not have to dig so deep out there."
The Loons (29-26) didn't waste any time putting runs on the board with two in the 1st inning and another in the 2nd. Alex Verdugo doubled and scored, Michael Ahmed singled and also scored to make it 2-0. Jimmy Allen was plated on a sacrifice fly from Kelvin Ramos.
Burlington (28-28) would respond in the top of the 3rd inning with three runs of their own to knot proceedings. Wade Wass singled to start the inning and scored. Erick Salcedo and Jake Yacinich each reached by way of a fielder's choice and were aided on the base paths by a balk from the Loons' Gonzlaez. Salcedo scored on the play while Yacinich crossed home on a single by Andrew Daniel.
The middle innings were quiet for both teams. Great Lakes did not record a hit from the 3rd inning until an Ahmed single with nobody out in the 8th. The Bees managed just one hit from the 3rd inning on.
Intertwined in the offensive struggles through the middle innings was the deciding run for the Loons. Johan Mieses walked with one out in the 5th, stole second base, advanced to third on a throwing error and came around to score via a wild pitch from Burlington starter Michael Bolaski (3-5), who took the loss.
Lindsey Caughel will get his first start of the season for the Loons in Sunday's matinee. Activated from the High-A Rancho Cucamonga Quakes disabled list Saturday, the 23-year-old pitched in Great Lakes in 2013 before being promoted after five starts. In 15 appearances (12 starts) last season in the California League, the right-hander went 8-5 with a 3.53 earned run average. Keynan Middleton (2-3, 4.02 ERA) will start for Burlington with first pitch set for 2:05 p.m.
Every Sunday for the 2015 season features the Loons' Kids Eat Free promotion presented by Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel. Children ages 5-12 receive a voucher for a hot dog, chips and a drink. Kids will also have the option to run the bases following the game, courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. Kids can take part in the pre-game youth clinic presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. They'll receive instruction on hitting, fielding and base running from Loons players. The Clinic is free with a ticket to the game. Start time for the clinic is 11 a.m.
The Great Lakes Loons are a ninth-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.
Midwest League Stories from June 6, 2015
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- Dragons Lose Series Opener in Kane County, 8-5 - Dayton Dragons
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- Late Homers Beat Chiefs Saturday Night in Lansing - Peoria Chiefs
- Pitching Takes Center Stage in Loons Win - Great Lakes Loons
- Bees Edged in Opener, 4-3 - Burlington Bees
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