Dragons Hold Off Late Loons Push, Win Third Straight

Midland, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-33) (14-13) managed just three hits but stranded seven runners on base, including two in the ninth as the Dayton Dragons (48-45) (15-12) grabbed their sixth straight win, third of the series, 4-3 on a sunny 85-degree Thursday night at Dow Diamond.

Both offenses scored in the first inning. Dayton’s Jay Allen II walked on seven pitches and stole both second and third. After a dropped third strike, Dalton Rushing threw it to first base to record the out. On a return throw, Rushing while trying to apply a tag, injured himself and was removed from the game.

In the bottom of the first, the Loons reached via two walks. Taylor Young and Yeiner Fernandez both advanced on five pitches. With two outs, Luis Diaz rifled a 1-0 pitch up the third base line, a two-run double. Those were the only two runs and one hit for Great Lakes against Dragons starter Jose Acuna. The 20-year-old right-hander went six innings, a season-high.

Maddux Bruns tossed a scoreless second but allowed a go-ahead homer in the third. Edwin Arroyo started the frame with a single, then Austin Callahan belted a 1-2 pitch over the left field fence to give Dayton a 3-2 lead. Bruns worked around two singles later in the third, to keep it a one-run deficit.

Dayton added their second home run of the game and fourth of the series, a solo shot from Jay Allen II in the fourth. Allen aired one to up the left field line, 466 feet. Lucas Wepf went two innings, the Allen homer was the only run and hit.

The Great Lakes bullpen kept the Dragons off the board from the fifth through the ninth. Franklin De La Paz tossed the sixth and seventh working around three hits and an error. Juan Morillo struck out two in the eighth, and Jack Dreyer punched out the side in the ninth.

The Loons pulled the score to 4-3 in the eighth. Jake Vogel and Taylor Young went back-to-back with singles. Two groundouts followed the second from Yeiner Fernandez scored Vogel. Dayton’s Mac Sceroler after a walk forced a groundout to end the frame. The 2021 Baltimore Oriole, finished two innings in his rehab appearance, his first Midwest League outing of 2023.

In the ninth, Great Lakes reached two, Griffin Lockwood-Powell and Jake Vogel on walks. A flyout to right ended things, a six-pitch battle between Dragons reliever John Murphy and Loons shortstop Taylor Young.

The Loons need three consecutive wins to avoid losing the series. Game four is tomorrow Friday, July 28th. The first pitch is at 7:05 p.m. It is a Feast Friday presented by Isabella Bank, a Gold Rush night where one lucky fan will win a gold bar worth almost $10,000 brought to you by Kzoo Bullion, and for the first 1000 fans, there will be a Loons Alpine Hat giveaway

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.