Cartaya Hammers Two-Run Double to Give Chubb 100th Loons Win

MIDLAND, Mich. – In a rollercoaster of a contest Saturday night at Dow Diamond, the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers tied the game at six in the top of the eighth inning, then got the first two outs in the bottom of the eighth.

Ismael Alcantara walked, then Jorbit Vivas walked, and all of a sudden, the Great Lakes Loons had the go-ahead run in scoring position for the No. 1 prospect in the Los Angeles Dodgers’ organization, Diego Cartaya.

He came through.

Cartaya blasted a double to deep center field to score both runners as the Loons pick up their fourth straight win, 8-6, over Wisconsin, for the 100th victory in Great Lakes for Loons manager Austin Chubb.

Great Lakes (37-25) scored first in the game, thanks to a two-run homer from Jonny Deluca. For the former Oregon Duck, it was his 15th homer of the season, good for second-most in the Midwest League, and his second of the week. The Loons led at that point, 2-0.

Wisconsin (34-27) responded immediately in the top of the third. With the bases loaded and two out, Ethan Murray hit his first extra-base hit of the series, a three-run double to put the Timber Rattlers ahead, 3-2.

The Timber Rattlers, High-A affiliate of the Milwaukee Brewers, added on in the fourth inning, thanks to an RBI single from Arbert Cipion, to give them a 4-2 advantage. That spelled the day for righty starter Kendall Williams, who allowed four runs on six hits in his 3 2-3 innings, walking two and striking out one.

The Loons, High-A partner of the Dodgers, exploded for four runs in the bottom of the fifth. Alcantara singled, then Cartaya doubled to put two men in scoring position for Alex De Jesus. The No. 20 prospect in the Dodgers’ system doubled to score both runners and tie the game. After an out, Jose Ramos hit a double as well to score De Jesus, before Imanol Vargas smacked a long single to plate Ramos and give the Loons a 6-4 lead.

Cole Duensing came in at that point for Great Lakes and was solid, tossing 1 1-3 innings of hitless baseball, walking just one batter while striking out three to keep the lead for the Loons.

After that, the Timber Rattlers would chip away and erode their deficit, scoring a run on one hit in each of the seventh and eighth innings. An RBI bunt single from Jose Acosta scored Joe Gray Jr. from second base to tie the game at six in the top of the eighth, immediately preceding the clutch Cartaya double. That run scored off of Loons righty Braydon Fisher (W, 2-1), who tossed 1 2-3 innings of one-hit ball, allowing a walk and striking out three.

Cartaya’s game-winning two-run double came off of Cam Robinson, who came into the game with the two men on base already, and scored both inherited runners. The runs were charged to Wisconsin right-hander Brady Schanuel (L, 0-1), who allowed a hit and two walks in 2 2-3 innings, picking up two strikeouts but eventually ceding the decisive two runs.

After the Loons took the lead in the eighth, lefty reliever Jeff Belge (SV, 1) came out for the ninth and struck out all three batters he faced. In his first 5 1-3 innings with the Loons this year, Belge has not allowed an earned run, and has seven punchouts without a walk.

In addition to the game-winning hit, Cartaya had a stellar day at the plate, going 3-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two RBIs and a run scored. De Jesus had a solid day as well, going 2-for-5 with one two-bagger, two RBIs and a run. Vargas walked and went 2-for-3 with one scored and one driven in.

With a Dayton loss in Cedar Rapids, the Loons gain a full game on the division-leading Dragons, now sitting 1 1/2 games back with four to play in the first half. Thursday marks the end of the first half, and the team that wins each division in each half clinches a spot in the playoffs. The Loons elimination number remains at four – any combination of Dayton wins and Great Lakes losses totaling four between now and Thursday will eliminate the Loons from first-half playoff contention.

The Loons clinch a series win over Wisconsin in the only series between the two teams this season, and Great Lakes looks to take five of six for the second straight series Sunday at Dow Diamond. The Loons have scheduled right-hander Ben Casparius (0-0, 8.10 ERA) to start, opposing Timber Rattlers southpaw Antoine Kelly (1-2, 3.20 ERA). First pitch time is 1:05 p.m., with coverage on ESPN 100.9-FM beginning with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 12:50 p.m. It’s Father’s Day at the Ballpark, with the Loons donning special powder blue jerseys to promote prostate cancer awareness. After the game, dads and kids can play catch on the field (with own baseball and gloves) presented by P.C.U.P.S. Foundation. As always on Sundays at Dow Diamond, kids eat free and run the bases postgame, presented by ESPN 100.9-FM. Tickets are still available on Loons.com.

Correction: June 19, 2022 An earlier version of this article stated that Robinson was charged with a blown save. He was not, as he did not enter in a save situation.

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.