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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Starting off Strong

August 7, 2015 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. -- Whatever momentum the Great Lakes Loons acquired from Thursday night's sweep-avoiding victory is still alive, contagious and has proven dangerous when rolling.

Starting pitcher Grant Holmes (6-2) orchestrated a sparkling outing on the mound and the Loons (55-54) opened a three-game series against the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers (37-73) with a 5-2 victory on Friday night at Dow Diamond.

Holmes pitched four innings of no-hit baseball before allowing just one hitter to reach safely during 4 2/3 inning of work. He struck out one batter, allowed three walks before handing the ball to his bullpen.

The Loons got their offense going early and the lead ballooned as the evening progressed.

Infielder Willie Calhoun started the bottom of the 2nd inning with a leadoff single, immediately followed by a base hit to almost the exact same spot on the field by Federico Celli.

First baseman Justin Chigbogu continued his recent hot streak with a soaring fly ball off the base of the left centerfield wall during the next at bat, scoring Calhoun and giving Great Lakes a 1-0 lead.

The home team manufactured another run when shortstop Nick Dean directed a sacrifice ground ball to the left side of the infield, allowing Celli to score and enhancing the lead to 2-0.

During the bottom of the next inning, third baseman Matt Beaty led the inning off with a single and advanced to third base on a base hit by outfielder Alex Verdugo. Fellow outfielder Kyle Garlick found a hole in shallow centerfield one batter later, notching his 23rd RBI of the season and bulking the Loons lead up to 3-0.

Great Lakes relief pitcher Jose Molina walked Wisconsin's Omar Cotto during the top of the 5th inning to give the Timer Rattlers their only run of the game. But the Loons got the run right back during the bottom of the inning on a one-out solo home run by Verdugo.

"I've been putting in a lot of time with my hitting coach recently to try and work on my swing," Verdugo said. "He threw a hanging changeup and I was able to put an okay swing on it and get it to go out."

In addition to making several impressive plays in the outfield, Verdugo managed one more RBI during the bottom of the 7th inning to add some insurance and push the Loons' lead to 5-1.

Wisconsin pitcher David Carver (2-3) took the loss while Molina (4-2) earned the win.

Game two of this three-game series will see Loons starter Luis De Paula (0-2, 3.95) face off against Wisconsin pitcher Cody Ponce who is 1-1 with a 1.29 ERA.

Dow Diamond will host Lou E.'s Big Top. Enjoy an amazing night at the ballpark with clowns, jugglers, stilt walkers and the amazing and death defying Chicago Boys. After the game, stick around and enjoy an amazing Fireworks Loontacular.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics



Midwest League Stories from August 7, 2015


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