Four-Run Ninth Gives Great Lakes Fourth Straight Win

Peoria, Ill. – The Great Lakes Loons (29-15) tallied four runs in the top of the ninth, a comeback victory, their fourth win in a row over the Peoria Chiefs (21-23) a 5-2 final on a Saturday night at Dozer Park. Great Lakes secured a series win, their fifth consecutive.

The Loons trailing 2-1, had the first three batters reach to start the top of the ninth. Taylor Young and Chris Alleyne walked, and Jake Vogel singled.

Austin Gauthier followed up with an RBI single to right field to tie the game. Dalton Rushing then stepped up and delivered a 1-2 bloop RBI single into right field. It was misplayed in right, so Vogel, Alleyne, and Gauthier, all came around to score.

Great Lakes have scored 11 runs in the ninth inning and later in this series.

Justin Wrobleski spun his third-straight quality start. The left-hander responded after the Chiefs totaled four hits and two runs in the first. Victor Scott singled to lead off the game, and Nathan Church doubled. Aaron McKeithan rode a sacrifice fly to center field to score Scott, Church was plated with a two-out Thomas Francisco base knock.

From the second to the fifth, Peoria had a baserunner reach in each inning, that was stranded. Wrobleski struck out three Chiefs.

Mitchell Tyranski, Reinaldo De Paula, and Benony Robles combined to finish the final four innings. Robles walked a batter in the ninth and needed 22 pitches but forced two popups.

Alex Freeland came around to score the first Loons run in the second. He singled to kick off the second inning, the first of four hits, the third Loon to do that, and the second in as many days. Freeland was plated after a Chris Alleyne fielder’s choice; Great Lakes did leave the bases loaded.

Through the fourth to the eighth, the Loons left a runner on base in each inning. Alex Freeland singled but would come to the dugout from a second base, in the fourth and sixth. In the fifth, Chris Alleyne singled, and Austin Gauthier worked his seventh walk of the series, but a 4-6-3 double play ended the inning. Both teams stranded eight on base.

Great Lakes remains four games up in the Midwest League East. The series finale is tomorrow Sunday, May 28th, first pitch is at 7:35 p.m. ET from Dozer Park.

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.