Great Lakes Outslugs Peoria in 11-9 Bout

Peoria, Ill. – The Great Lakes Loons (28-15) plated two runs in the top of the ninth, an Alex Freeland triple to extend his hitting streak to five games, followed by an Ismael Alcantara RBI single that pushed the score to 11-9, the final over the Peoria Chiefs (21-22) on a 77-degree clear Friday night at Dozer Park.

Aldry Acosta, with a two-run lead, completed his second inning of work, forcing a 1-2-3 frame. It was the only time Peoria was set down in order.

The Chiefs started the game strong, plating five runs in the first three innings. Peoria’s leadoff hitter Victor Scott scored on a wild pitch in the first and drove in a run with an RBI single in the second. That was followed up by a Darlin Moquete single that scored another run, both runs that scored were put on by walks from Loons starter Jerming Rosario.

In the third, Ramon Mendoza knocked in two with his first homer of the season, against Christian Suarez.

The Loons got an RBI single from Dalton Rushing in the third, and after three innings, down 5-1, they scored the next eight runs.

Ismael Alcantara and Jake Vogel roped back-to-back singles in the top of the fourth. With two outs, Luis Diaz singled to left field to score Alcantara. He was followed by Austin Gauthier, who belted a 1-2 pitch onto the left field berm to tie up the game at five. A four-run fourth.

Great Lakes took the lead in the fifth. Dalton Rushing doubled and with two outs Alcantara, grounded a ball to third that was misplayed by Osvaldo Tovalin. All six runs, five earned, came against starter Peoria’s Alex Cornwell.

Three straight hits started the top of the sixth. Luis Diaz delivered a leadoff single and then a stolen base. Diaz had four hits in the contest, his fourth four-hit game of his 351 minor league games.

Austin Gauthier plated him with a double, his fourth RBI of the night. Yeiner Fernandez followed a laced a liner down the left-field line, just jumping the wall. Fernandez made it 9-5 Loons. Jack Dreyer commanded the bottom of the fourth and fifth for Great Lakes, stranding two.

Franklin De La Paz had a tough sixth inning. Two walks and two pitch clock violations netted two Chiefs runs, to pull them within two.

Peoria knotted the score at nine in the bottom of the eighth. Two walks and a single loaded the bases, and ousted Michael Hobbs from the game. Aldry Acosta did damage control, getting two forceouts and a popup. An error on one of the forceouts brought home the two runs.

The Loons jumped back on top with the Alex Freeland triple and Ismael Alcantara single. Freeland was 0-4 entering the at-bat, and Alcantara’s single was his third of the game.

Great Lakes remains four games up in the Midwest League East. Game five is tomorrow Saturday, May 27th, 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.