MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Steps Toward Playoffs Continue

Published on August 23, 2016 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


Steps Toward Playoffs Continue Loons now occupy final playoff spot in MWL Eastern Division MIDLAND, Mich. - The damage was done both early and late by the Great Lakes Loons as they won 9-2 over the Fort Wayne TinCaps on Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. Four runs in the 3rd inning, coupled with five runs in the 8th was more than enough fire power to get the job done.

Now with 10 wins in their last 13 games, the Loons move into the final playoff spot in the Midwest League's Eastern Division as the Lansing Lugnuts fell 5-3 to the Dayton Dragons. The Loons have a 1/2 game lead on Lansing and a 2 1/2 game lead on the Lake County Captains with 13 games remaining in the 2016 regular season (six at home).

"We feel good that the team is in a (playoff spot) now," Ibandel Isabel said on ESPN 100.9-FM through interpreter Ivan Vieitez after the game. "But we still need to keep fighting for it."

The Loons jumped out to their early lead when Saige Jenco doubled with one out and then scored one batter later on a triple from Luke Raley. Two batters later Isabel got his eventful night started when he reached on a dropped third strike that brought Raley across to score doubling the lead. Eric Meza and Zach McKinstry each followed with RBI-base hits of their own to double the advantage once more making it 4-0.

The only blemish against Great Lakes starter Leo Crawford (W, 2-1) came in the 4th inning as Jose Carlos Urena smacked his third home run of the season to get the TinCaps on the board. The right-hander earned his second consecutive win at home going five innings and allowing one run on three hits and striking out five batters.

Despite a speed bump in the 7th that saw Fort Wayne pull within two runs at 4-2, the Loons left no doubt about the outcome as they piled on in the bottom of the 8th.

In the lineup as the designated hitter Tuesday, the slugger Isabel led off the frame with a solo shot that cleared the concourse in left-center field, leaving the ballpark on the fly. It was the 21-year-old's fourth home run in the last three games.

"I just feel really good right now," Isabel said. "I've been putting in a lot of work with (Aaron Bates) the hitting coach."

Brendon Davis, who went 3-for-4 in the game, followed Isabel with a single of his own. After stealing second base he would come around to score on a single off the bat of Eric Meza to make it 6-2 in favor of the Loons. The first career home run for Jenco, a three-run bomb out to right field, capped off the offensive outburst to give Great Lakes plenty of cushion heading into the 9th.

Once Duke University product Andrew Istler (H, 2) came out of the Loons bullpen to toss two innings of relief, it was Tony Gonsolin (SV, 2) who threw two shutout frames to end the game.

The series with the TinCaps rolls on Wednesday with a special weeknight Fireworks Loontacular powered by Dow Corning taking place after the game. Coverage gets started at 6:35 p.m. ET on ESPN 100.9-FM with the Loons On-Deck Circle hosted by Chris Vosters and Brad Tunney.

Check out the Great Lakes Loons Statistics

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Midwest League Stories from August 23, 2016


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