Dayton Pitchers Outduel Camels in 10th Inning

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons have been the best hitting team in High-A baseball in the month of June with a .277 batting average.

The Great Lakes Camels did not have the same luck.

In a tense pitchers’ duel, the Dayton Dragons shut down a hot Loons offense, winning 2-1 in 10 innings, in the first appearance this season for the Loons’ alternate Camels identity.

Both teams were kept scoreless in the first five frames. For the Dragons (42-29, 3-2 second half), right-handed starter Joe Boyle was tremendous, allowing just one hit and a hit batsman while striking out 12 batters.

Great Lakes (44-27, 4-1) had a great start from their right-hander, Kyle Hurt. In his five frames, Hurt allowed a walk and two hit batsmen, but no hits and no runs with 10 punchouts. The Loons went nearly three years without a pitcher striking out 10 batters, and now it happens on back-to-back nights: Nick Nastrini on Tuesday and Hurt on Wednesday. In addition, Hurt is now on a 14-inning no-hit streak at Dow Diamond.

Dayton, the Cincinnati Reds’ High-A affiliate, opened the scoring in the top of the sixth inning. Ashton Creal led off the inning with the Dragons’ first hit of the evening, then stole second base. Quin Cotton followed that up with his first hit with Dayton this year, and his first RBI, giving the visitors a 1-0 lead.

The Loons, High-A partner with the Los Angeles Dodgers, evened the score in the bottom of the frame. Diego Cartaya, the Dodgers’ No. 1 prospect, blasted a home run for the second night in a row, his fourth with Great Lakes and his 13th of the season, to tie the game, 1-1.

After that sixth inning, Loons lefty Lael Lockhart did not allow another run, pitching until the end of regulation. Lockhart went four innings of four-hit baseball, allowing a walk and one earned run while striking out six Dragons.

In the top of the 10th inning, the Dragons did not register a hit, but scored anyway. Mat Nelson was placed on second base to begin the inning, per rules introduced to Minor League Baseball in 2021. He advanced to third on a wild pitch from Loons reliever Braydon Fisher (L, 2-2). Creal then stood in and belted a sacrifice fly deep to center field, giving the Dragons a 2-1 lead, which would become the final score. Dayton has scored on three sac flies in this series, after hitting just seven sac flies in their first 69 games.

In the bottom of the 10th, the Loons loaded the bases with one out, thanks to an intentional walk and a hit by pitch, but Donovan Benoit (W, 3-2) spun his way out of the jam. Benoit finished with 2 1-3 innings of scoreless baseball, allowing a hit and two walks while striking out three.

The Loons and Dragons are now tied in the six-game set at one game apiece, with the series continuing Thursday at 7:05 p.m. at Dow Diamond. Loons right-hander Kendall Williams (1-3, 3.43 ERA) toes the rubber, opposing fellow righty Miguel Medrano (1-0, 1.93 ERA). Pregame coverage begins on ESPN 100.9-FM with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 6:50 p.m. At Dow Diamond, it’s Vote for Pedro night, with Jon Gries (Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite) in attendance to meet and greet with fans. It’s another Thirsty Thursday, presented by J.P. O’Sullivan Distributing – enjoy 50% off draft beer all night long. After the game, thanks to Farm Bureau Insurance of Michigan, watch the skies light up over Dow Diamond with a Fireworks Loontacular. Tickets are still available on Loons.com.

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.