
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.
Midwest League Stories from September 3, 2009
- Whitecaps Hold Off Lugnuts - West Michigan Whitecaps
- Bandits Tattoo Snappers For Fourth Straight Win - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Whitecaps Hold Off Lugnuts, 5-3 - Lansing Lugnuts
- Cougars Pound Chiefs, Even Series - Kane County Cougars
- Wisconsin Strands 13 In Loss - Wisconsin Timber Rattlers
- TinCaps Doubled Up By Loons, 8-4 - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Chiefs Falter at Home, 8-4 to Kane County - Peoria Chiefs
- Bees Headed To Playoffs for 2nd Year in a Row - Burlington Bees
- Dragons Win, Set Up Pivotal Game on Friday - Dayton Dragons
- Hawks Lose Game and Lead - South Bend Silver Hawks
- Carlos Is Back - Kane County Cougars
- Dow Diamond Named MWL Field of the Year - Great Lakes Loons
- Dragons Announce August Players of the Month - Dayton Dragons
- Wilton Lopez Makes MLB Debut With Astros - Fort Wayne TinCaps
- Dragons Gameday September 3rd - Dayton Dragons
- Bandits Release 2010 Schedule - Quad Cities River Bandits
- Labor Day Holiday Homestand Preview - Kane County Cougars
- Unusual ending gives Kernels 4-3 win at Wisconsin - Cedar Rapids Kernels
- Midwest League Sports Turf Manager / Crew of the Year - MWL1
- TinCaps End Loons' Win Streak at Five - Great Lakes Loons
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.
Other Recent Great Lakes Loons Stories
- South Bend Splits Series with 11-2 Sunday Win
- Loons Win 2-1 Twice, in Completed Suspended Game and Seven-Inning Contest
- Swan and Gutierrez Combine for No-Hitter in Game Two of Doubleheader
- Tonight's Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Thursday
- Cubs Crush Loons 11-3

