Four Late Runs Propel Loons to Series Win in Fort Wayne

The Great Lakes Loons had a 3-0 lead after the top of the first inning Saturday night at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Ind.

After the first, it became 3-1. Then 3-2 after three. Then in the fifth, the Fort Wayne TinCaps took a 4-3 lead.

The Loons wasted no time in their comeback effort.

Great Lakes scored two runs in the sixth and another pair in the seventh, defeating Fort Wayne, 7-5, and securing a series win for the third consecutive set.

The Loons (42-26, 2-0 second half) jumped out to their 3-0 advantage in the first inning. Jonny Deluca led off the game with a single, his eighth hit of the series. After Alex De Jesus walked, Jose Ramos hit his eighth home run with the Loons and his 14th of the year in total.

Fort Wayne (27-41, 0-2) responded with a run in the bottom half. Corey Rosier tripled to lead off the frame, then scored on an RBI groundout from Lucas Dunn to make it a 3-1 ballgame.

The TinCaps, High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, scored again in the third. Rosier walked with one out, moved to second on a groundout, then scored on a Dunn single to pull the home side within a run.

Fort Wayne continued their momentum in the fifth inning. After a pair of two-out walks, Matthew Acosta drove in the tying run, and the go-ahead run scored on a wild pitch, to put the TinCaps up, 4-3.

The Loons, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, responded immediately in the sixth frame. Kekai Rios doubled with one out, and scored when Sauryn Lao reached on an error to tie the game. It also prolonged the inning, and allowed Ismael Alcantara to drive in Lao from first with a double and give the Loons a 5-4 advantage.

They added to that advantage in the seventh inning, thanks to Imanol Vargas. He belted his eighth home run of the year, a two-run shot to give the Loons some breathing room.

On the hill, Robbie Peto (W, 5-0) was excellent out of the bullpen. He labored to get the final out of the fifth inning, and the final run of that frame was charged to him. After that, he got through the sixth and the seventh without allowing a hit. His final line read 2 1-3 innings of one-hit baseball, one earned run, three walks, three strikeouts.

Fort Wayne scored a run on one hit in the eighth inning. Julian Smith (SV, 3) came in with the bases loaded and two outs, and while he did allow one inherited runner to score, he picked up a strikeout to get out of the frame. In the ninth inning, a pair of walks saw the tying run reach scoring position, but Smith spun his way around it to secure the 7-5 victory.

Another stellar offensive day saw 14 total hits for the Loons, including at least one from every starter. Eddys Leonard, Vargas, Rios, Lao and Alcantara each had two hits.

The Loons pitching staff walked double-digit batters for the second consecutive day, today allowing 10 bases on balls, but Great Lakes finds a way to win regardless.

Great Lakes now takes a 4-1 lead in the series, and confirms a series win for the third straight set. Sunday sees a chance for the Loons to win five of six games for the third consecutive series. Carlos Duran (0-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the rubber for the Loons, facing off with Dwayne Matos (0-1, 5.51 ERA) in a rematch of Tuesday’s starting pitching matchup. Sunday’s contest at Parkview Field begins at 1:05 p.m. Catch the coverage live on ESPN 100.9-FM, beginning with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 12:50 p.m.

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.