Five Longballs Lift Loons over Lake County

In the last two games at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio, the Great Lakes Loons had scored a total of four runs, and lost both contests.

On Saturday night, the Loons had four in the third inning, and seven runs by the fourth.

The Loons exploded offensively, using five home runs to score all eight of their runs, defeating the Lake County Captains, 8-2.

Great Lakes (18-14) took an early lead in the second inning, thanks to a leadoff homer from Ryan January. Joe Vranesh walked, then Jonny Deluca blasted his joint-league-high 11th home run of the season to put Great Lakes ahead 3-0. That would lead to an early exit for Lake County lefty Doug Nikhazy (L, 0-2).

Thanks to some excellent pitching, the Loons wouldn’t need any more runs. (Spoiler alert: they got more runs, though.) Kendall Williams, the right-handed starter for Great Lakes, allowed three hits and three walks in three frames, but only allowed one run to score on a pair of third-inning hits. Williams struck out four in his third start for the Loons.

Great Lakes, the High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, added to its lead in the third and fourth innings. In the third, Jorbit Vivas led off the frame with his first longball of the season. In the next frame, Hector Martinez notched his first Loons hit in his High-A debut, then DeLuca walked, both with two outs. Eddys Leonard blasted a three-run bomb and gave Great Lakes a 7-1 lead.

After Williams left the game in the third inning, the Loons used one reliever per inning the rest of the way, with six bullpen arms each throwing one inning of work. Kevin Malisheski and Antonio Knowles both allowed a pair of baserunners in the fourth and fifth inning, respectively, but both used a double play to help them get out of their innings without a run. Carlos Alejo did not allow a hit, but hit a batter that would eventually come around to score, advancing on a pair of wild pitches and a groundout. After his sixth inning, the Loons still had a comfortable 7-2 lead.

Lake County (14-17), the Cleveland Guardians’ High-A affiliate, would only get two baserunners in the final three innings of play. Adam Scoggins issued a one-out walk in the seventh inning, but notched a pair of strikeouts to strand the runner. Braydon Fisher was effective, his lone blemish a two-out single in the eighth while picking up a punchout. Michael Hobbs (W, 1-0) tossed the ninth, and was the only Loons pitcher to toss a perfect inning, needing just seven pitches to record the final three outs.

The last run for the Loons came in the seventh inning, a solo blast off the bat of Leonel Valera, his fifth of the year. Valera had the best day of any Loon at the plate, finishing a triple short of the cycle. He went 3-for-4 with a double, the aforementioned homer, and a ninth -inning walk.

Great Lakes also had an excellent day defensively, not committing an error while turning four double plays throughout the game, a season high and one short of a franchise record.

The Loons and Captains will play the final game of the six-game set Sunday at Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio, with a chance for Great Lakes to win its third consecutive series. First pitch for Sunday afternoon is scheduled for 1:00 p.m, with pregame coverage beginning on ESPN 100.9-FM at 12:45 p.m. with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland. Nick Nastrini (0-0, 3.09 ERA) makes his second start of the week for Great Lakes, facing off against fellow right-hander Tommy Mace (0-1, 4.58 ERA) for the home side.

The Great Lakes Loons have been a 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.