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MWL Great Lakes Loons

Saturday Shutout Gives TinCaps Series Edge

August 7, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - Shut out for just the third time this season, the Great Lakes Loons (45-38) only saw four baserunners Saturday night, falling to the Fort Wayne TinCaps (39-44) at Dow Diamond, 2-0. Following a two-run debut at the High-A level for Loons starter Jose Hernandez in 1 2/3 innings, the Great Lakes bullpen held Fort Wayne scoreless in the remaining 7 1/3 innings, walking no batters and combining for nine strikeouts.

At the plate, Great Lakes finished 0-for-1 with runners in scoring position. Brandon Lewis led off the first inning with a two-out single and stole second for his first swiped bag of the season. Lewis at second would be the only run scoring opportunity for GL of the night.

Reigning High-A Central pitcher of the week Danny Denz began the shutout effort with four innings, walking two batters and striking out four. Fort Wayne used four different arms for the remainder of the five innings, combining for six strikeouts, no walks on no hits or runs. Luke Boyd (W, 1-0) used 12 pitches in the fifth inning relieving Denz, striking out two batters.

In his High-A debut, Hernandez (L, 0-1) recorded a strikeout in 1 2/3 innings, allowing two earned runs to the TinCaps in the top of the second. Zack Mathis singled with one out off Hernandez before back-to-back RBI doubles from Tyler Malone and Adam Kerner, ending the night's scoring.

Cole Percival made his first appearance since allowing four earned runs on one hit on Wednesday, only recording one out in what was his second start of the season. In a bounce-back effort, Percival struck out four batters in 4 1/3 innings, holding Fort Wayne scoreless on four hits.

Aldry Acosta appeared for the second time in a Loons uniform, following his debut on Wednesday. In two perfect innings Saturday night, Acosta struck out the side in the seventh inning with three straight strikeouts. Zack Plunkett stamped his only inning with two strikeouts in the top of the ninth, allowing no baserunners.

Finishing 0-for-3 Saturday, Pages saw a 24-game on-base streak conclude, a game after a nine-game hit streak ended for the outfielder in a hitless Friday loss.

Zack Mathis tallied three hits for the second-straight night, tallying six hits on eight trips to the plate and ten total bases in the last two nights.

Fort Wayne now holds a game advantage over Great Lakes into Sunday's series finale, with first pitch scheduled for 1:05 P.M. from Dow Diamond. Sunday's game features a rematch from Tuesday's starting pitching matchup in Fort Wayne's Moises Lugo against GL's Hyun-il Choi. The last time out, Choi made his High-A debut with eight strikeouts in five innings, allowing only one run on six hits.

Coverage begins with the Loons On-Deck Circle, Built by Three Rivers, at 12:35 P.M. EDT. After tomorrow, Great Lakes concludes a 12-game home stand with a six-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers in the first interleague series of the season for the Loons, beginning on Tuesday.

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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