MWL Great Lakes Loons

Season-High 18 Hits Powers 9-1 Win

June 23, 2021 - Midwest League (MWL)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons (22-21) clubbed a season-high18 hits, taking the series opener in a six-game series over the Lake County Captains (23-20) with a 9-1 final. The Loons combined for three homeruns, totaling seven in their last two outings. Five different Loons batters recorded multi-hit outings, four of those on three or more hits. Great Lakes allowed an unearned run the top of the third inning, striking out 12 batters and walking one. Melvin Jimenez (W, 2-0) totaled three strikeouts in his lone inning of work, needed 13 pitches to do so. After allowing three homeruns in 27 1/3 innings entering today, Great Lakes tagged Captains starter Hunter Gaddis (L, 2-3) with three homers, scoring seven runs on 10 hits in 3 2/3 innings.

Great Lakes finished 6-for-18 with runners in scoring position. Ryan Ward increased his team-best batting average to .318 on a 4-for-5 night, knocking the game's first run on a solo homerun in the bottom of the first. Carson Taylor reached base in every at-bat on a 4-for-4 performance, walking once and hitting his second homerun of the year to lead off the home half of the second. Andy Pages, the High-A Central's homerun leader, recorded his 13th longball of the season in the third, extending the Loons lead to 3-1. Great Lakes used a four-run fourth inning to propel them to a Tuesday win, beginning with three consecutive hits from Taylor, Justin Yurchak and Zac Ching. Following a Deacon Liput strikeout, Joe Vranesh emptied the bases with a three-run double into the left-field corner. Vranesh doubled again in the following inning, tying a season-high with four runs batted in Tuesday night.

Ching, Ward and Yurchak have all continued a favorable stretch of games at the plate, thanks to streaks of multi-hit performances. For Ward, his team-high batting average has steadily increased, thanks to five consecutive multi-hit games, doing so in seven of his last nine. Ching recorded his 11th game in June with two or more hits on Tuesday night, while Yurchak's 3-for-4 game made it seven multi-hit nights in his last eight. Yurchak finished with 12 hits in the Lansing stretch, a series-best by either roster.

The Loons attacked Lake County with five different pitchers, headlined by Jose Martinez's four scoreless innings in his first start since June 1. Martinez has not allowed an earned run in his last 10.0 innings of work, and has only allowed one in his last 16 2/3 innings. Great Lakes hurled four different arms between Jimenez, Braidyn Fink, Mike Mokma and Hunter Speer, who made his Dow Diamond debut with a scoreless ninth, striking out a batter.

The Loons and Captains continue their season series that began in mid-May, when a six-game series at Dow Diamond ended in a split. First pitch for Wednesday night's ball game is scheduled for a 7:05 P.M. EDT first pitch, with gates opening for Bark in the Park Night, presented by Creation Coffee, an hour earlier. Live coverage can be followed live on ESPN 100.9 FM, beginning with the Loons On-Deck Circle, Built by Three Rivers, at 6:35 P.M. This Wednesday is Great Lakes' monthly Camels Takeover as we celebrate Hump Day, presented by Fisher Companies.

Expected on the mound for Great Lakes is Bobby Miller, making his eighth start of the season. Miller, the Dodgers' first-round selection in the 2020 MLB Draft, hasn't allowed an earned run in his 10 2/3 innings in June, striking out 11 batters. Miller carries an 0.76 WHIP in his seven appearances this year, with batters averaging a .149 against him. Opposing Miller for Lake County is Xzavion Curry, making his third start with the Captains after being added from Cleveland's Low-A Lynchburg on June 16. Curry has struck out 13 batters in 11 innings with LC, allowing two earned runs in two prior outings.

Continuing the week's promotional schedule, Thirsty Thursday, presented by Miller Lite, is That 70's Night at Dow Diamond, as the Loons throw it back to the decade of disco! Great Lakes breaks out their second Dodgers Bluesday on Friday, presented by MidMichigan Health, paying tribute to Dodgers legend Fernando Valenzuela. As always, fans can expect a great selection of discounted food specials for Feast Fridays, presented by Isabella Bank. The Loons also celebrate the contributions of Hispanic and Latino players to the game of baseball with Latino Loons Night! Fans can enjoy a postgame Fireworks Loontacular on Saturday, presented by Farm Bureau Insurance. Rounding out the six-game series, kids eat free and 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.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from June 23, 2021


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

OurSports Central