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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

TinCaps End Loons' Win Streak at Five

September 3, 2009 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


FORT WAYNE, IN - In a matchup of two of the top three teams in the Midwest League's second half and two teams who have already clinched a Midwest League playoff berth, the Fort Wayne TinCaps snapped the Great Lakes Loons' five-game winning streak with a 5-4 win Wednesday night at Parkview Field.

The game-winning run was scored under peculiar circumstances in the seventh inning. With the game tied 4-4 with two outs and runners at second and third, Loons manager Juan Bustabad tried to signal in an intentional walk to catcher Matt Wallach. Pitcher Daigoro Rondon had come set and Wallach signaled for a time out. But before time was granted, Rondon flinched and was called for a balk.

Trailing 5-4, the Loons loaded the bases with two outs in the eighth, but Jaime Pedroza was called out on strikes by home plate umpire Chris Nguyen on a delayed third strike call. Pedroza, also upset on a previous strike call in the at bat, protested the call at the plate and was ejected by Nguyen.

The Loons scored single runs in the second and third innings to take a 2-0 lead. In the second, the Loons manufactured a run with a leadoff double by Nick Buss. Wallach advanced Buss to third with a ground ball to second. Later, Jerry Sands lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Buss.

Then in the third, Anthony Hatch drilled a solo home run, his 11th longball of the year, and the Loons led 2-0 after 2 ½ innings.

But the TinCaps tied the game in the bottom of the third on a two-run home run off Aaron Miller, the second time Dykstra has homered off Miller this year in three starts against Fort Wayne. Miller faced one additional batter in the fourth inning before departing after three-plus innings.

Fort Wayne took the lead with single runs in the fifth and sixth innings off reliever Steve Smith, who walked four in 2 1/3 innings. Just one of the two runs off Smith was earned.

But the Loons tied the game in the top of the seventh on a two-run double by Kyle Russell, his 97th and 98th RBIs of the year.

Jon Dutton (0-2) was tagged with his second loss of the season. He surrendered a leadoff single in the seventh to Yefri Carvajal, who scored from third on the balk. Rob Musgrave (2-4) surrendered the lead in the top of the seventh, but was the pitcher of record for his second win. Alexis Lara recorded the final three outs for his second save of the year.

The Loons and TinCaps meet for the second game of the series Thursday night at Parkview Field. Game time is 7:05pm. The game will be carried in Mid-Michigan on ESPN 100.9-FM and online at Loons.com. Right-hander JonMichael Redding (15-3, 4.59), tied for the league lead in wins, will start for the Loons against left-hander Mike Wall (7-3, 4.11), a former Dodgers farmhand.

Tickets remain on sale for Loons' September 9 playoff game against West Michigan, also a 7:05pm game at Dow Diamond, the first playoff game in team history. All Loons home playoff games will feature the Chemical Bank Dollar Family Feast Night promotion.

The Great Lakes Loons are the third-year Single-A affiliate 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.

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Midwest League Stories from September 3, 2009


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