MWL Great Lakes Loons

Rain Delays Loons 7-1 Loss

June 25, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons (22-23) dropped their second-consecutive game against the Lake County Captains (25-20) Thursday night at Dow Diamond in another 7-1 loss, the same result from the night prior. Leonel Valera assured there'd be no shutout, clubbing his eighth homerun of 2021 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Captains starter Logan Allen (W, 4-0) waived a career-high nine batters on strikes in six innings, allowing no earned runs on four hits. In his 12th appearance of the year, Clayton Beeter (L, 0-3) recorded three strikeouts in 1 2/3 innings, allowing a leadoff homerun to Bryan Lavastida in the second inning, his second of the year. Lavastida recorded his third homerun in his final at-bat of the night on another solo blast, finishing 3-for-3 with two HRs and reached via hit by pitch in the fourth.

At the top of the order for the first time since May 14, Valera finished 2-for-2 with a double and his homerun, successfully reaching on a hit-by-pitch and a walk in his other two trips to the plate. Justin Yurchak recorded his 11th multi-hit game of the month to increase his June batting average to .431, the highest in the High-A Central by .048 points. Yurchak has amassed an 18-game on-base streak, dating back to the Lansing series at the end of the month of May. In 17 games in June for Yurchak, the first baseman has recorded a hit in 13 of them.

After finishing 0-for-10 with runners in scoring position in Wednesday's loss to Lake County, the Loons ended Thursday 0-for-8 in the same category. Lake County out-hit Great Lakes, 11 to 7, finishing 3-for-13 with runners in scoring position. One homerun is all Lavastida was able to produce in his 21 previous games, as the Captains' designated hitter totaled two in Thursday's game.

Recording 1 2/3 innings in his 11th start, Beeter surrendered the game's first run with the solo homer from Lavastida in the top of the second inning. Loons righty Zack Plunkett recorded the final out of the second, turning it over to Landon Knack for the next 3 2/3 innings, the longest for any of the five GL pitchers Thursday night. Knack surrendered three earned runs on five hits, walking no batters and striking out three. Jeff Belge turned in the next five outs for the Loons, allowing two earned runs on three hits, also with no walks and three strikeouts. Cam Gibbens logged the final four outs for Great Lakes, surrendering the final run of the game with Lavastida's second homerun of the night, his third this year.

This week's series at Dow Diamond continues between Lake County and Great Lakes with game four of a six-game set on Friday night, first pitch scheduled at 7:05 P.M. EDT. A loaded promotional schedule continues Friday night for Feast Friday, presented by Isabella Bank, as well as Latino Loons Night, celebrating the contributions of Hispanic and Latino to the game of baseball. Friday is also a Dodgers Bluesday, presented by MidMichigan Health, as the Loons pay homage to their parent club of the Los Angeles Dodgers and celebrate Fernando Valenzuela. Coverage can be followed live on ESPN 100.9 FM with the Loons On-Deck Circle, Built by Three Rivers.

Friday's matchup features a pair of right-handers between Lake County's Tanner Burns and Loons righty Logan Boyer. In seven games, Burns has logged 30 2/3 innings for the Captains, holding a sub-3.00 ERA at 2.93. In his seven games, Burns has tallied 36 strikeouts and surrendered only 8 walks. Boyer makes his 12th appearance of the year, bringing a 2.53 earned-run average in 10 2/3 innings with him. Boyer, an 11th-round selection by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2019 out of San Diego State, has struck out 13 batters in 10 2/3 innings.

On Saturday, fans can enjoy a postgame Fireworks Loontacular, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Lake County and Great Lakes conclude the series on Sunday, with kids eating free and can run the bases postgame every Sunday at Dow Diamond with a 1:05 P.M. series finale, presented by Serra Toyota of Saginaw. A full look at the 2021 Promotional Schedule can be found at Loons.com.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from June 25, 2021


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