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MWL1 Great Lakes Loons

Walk-Off Wraps up Homestand

July 23, 2018 - Midwest League (MWL1)
Great Lakes Loons News Release


MIDLAND, Mich. - In a heated pitching duel between the Great Lakes Loons and Peoria Chiefs on Monday at Dow Diamond, the Loons came out on top with a walk-off single from Brandon Montgomery in the 10th inning, 2-1. Following a sacrifice fly from Josh McLain to tie the game in the bottom of the 10th, Montgomery singled on the first pitch of the at-bat to score Eric Peterson.

Right-hander Alfredo Tavarez started for Great Lakes and had his best outing of his Single-A career. The 20-year-old lowered his ERA from 3.66 to 3.22 with 7.0 scoreless innings allowing just four hits and two walks with seven strikeouts.

Tavarez received help from his fielders in the first inning. After walking leadoff hitter Nick Plummer, Luken Baker singled to right fielder Carlos Rincon, who threw the ball to second baseman Devin Mann. Upon receiving the ball, Mann flung it to catcher Gersel Pitre before Plummer arrived, recording the out and saving a run.

The Chiefs (18-11) countered with Alex Fagalde on the mound and he did not disappoint. Going back-and-forth with Tavarez, the right-hander tossed 5.0 scoreless innings. He allowed one hit and two walks with five strikeouts. In Fagalde's last six outings, he has allowed just four runs.

Fagalde turned the ball over to reliever Ben Yokley, who immediately picked up where the starter left off. Yokley only put two players on-base, both courtesy of a walk, in 2.0 innings. He struck out three hitters.

Celebrating his 19th birthday, Loons reliever Melvin Jimenez (W, 2-6) took over for Tavarez in the top of the eighth. On the Chiefs side of the ball, Patrick Dayton allowed Brandon Montgomery to reach second base with two outs but got Devin Mann to fly out, ending the eighth.

Patrick Dayton sent down the Loons in order in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings, still scoreless.

Jimenez, Great Lakes reliever, pitched a perfect eighth and ninth inning before allowing a run to score in the 10th. Starting with a runner on second base, a rule newly implemented to Minor League Baseball, Jimenez allowed a single to Yariel Gonzalez, which drove in Andres Luna for a 1-0 lead.

As Chiefs reliever Fabian Blanco (L, 2-1) was on the hill, Great Lakes scored two in the bottom of the 10th on runs batted in from McLain and Montgomery for a 2-1 win.

With the win, Great Lakes avoided losing six-straight games at Dow Diamond, which would have been the first time in franchise history.

After a Midwest League off day on Tuesday, the Loons travel to play the Bowling Green Hot Rods at 7:35 p.m. on Wednesday for the start of a three-game series. Great Lakes does not return to Dow Diamond until Aug. 1 for a game against the West Michigan Whitecaps.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team's home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.

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Midwest League Stories from July 23, 2018


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