MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Smith Homers Twice in Loons Loss

Published on August 11, 2010 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


SOUTH BEND, IN - Blake Smith homered twice and drove in all his team's runs as the Great Lakes Loons closed out the game with three unanswered runs, but the South Bend Silver Hawks held on for a 4-3 win over the Loons Wednesday night. The win was just the second for the Silver Hawks this season over the Loons and their first at Coveleski Stadium.

Loons starter Matt Magill (6-3) surrendered just three hits, but was charged with four runs (all earned) and notched the loss. South Bend scored single runs in the first and fourth innings on sacrifice flies. In the sixth inning, Silver Hawks DH Matt Davidson blasted his 16th home run of the season off the left-field foul pole.

Trailing 4-0, the Loons rallied for three unanswered in the final three innings, all driven home by Smith. With one out in the seventh, he lifted a solo shot to right-center off South Bend starter Mike Belfiore (2-9), the only run allowed by the lefty in the game.

Then with the Silver Hawks up by three in the ninth, Smith struck again with an opposite-field two-run shot to pull Great Lakes to within one run. It was Smith's 16th homer of the year.

J.T. Wise followed and drew a walk against closer Kevin Munson but Jaime Ortiz struck out to end the game. The runs allowed by Munson were his first allowed as a professional, but he qualified for the save.

Belfiore struck out five and limited the Loons to four hits and one run in seven innings.

Smith continues his dominance over the Silver Hawks this season. He has hit half (eight) of his homers and is hitting .486 (34-for-70) against South Bend. With the loss, the Loons are now 17-2 this year against South Bend, 33-12 in the second half and 76-38 overall, the best record in professional baseball.

Thursday night, the Loons and Silver Hawks meet for the second game of their three-game series. Right-hander Allen Webster (11-7, 2.50 ERA), first in the league in wins and second in ERA, is scheduled to start for the Loons against South Bend right-hander Andrew Wolcott (1-2, 5.08). The game will be broadcast live on ESPN 100.9-FM.

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.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics

Share: Facebook | Twitter/X | LinkedIn | Reddit | Email



Midwest League Stories from August 11, 2010


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