Loons Blanked by River Bandits 7-0 

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (15-10) win streak was snapped at four games as they faced stalwart pitching from the Quad Cities River Bandits (10-14), who were victorious 7-0 on a 59-degree overcast Friday night at Dow Diamond. Austin Gauthier’s 13-game hit streak ended, but the 23-year-old reached twice, two walks.

Orlando Ortiz in his first Loons start, delivered his best outing of 2023. The right-hander flew through five frames. The only hit was a Jack Pineda single that led off the game, it was followed by a 4-6-3 double play. Ortiz’s fifth inning was his best, with three strikeouts, including the final two outs. He finished with a season-high five strikeouts.

The first seven Loons were retired by River Bandits starter Chandler Champlain, including five via strikeout. Yunior Garcia was the lone Loon with a hit, a single, with one out in the bottom of the third.

Chris Alleyne followed with a bloop to right field, it would be a throw from right field, a 9-6 fielder’s choice. After a walk, Alex Freeland stepped up. He grounded a ball toward the first baseman, who flipped to the pitcher as Freeland slid feet first into the base. The play was out number three, but the 2022 Third Round Pick, was ejected after arguing the call made.

Champlain, in the middle innings, permitted just one baserunner via a walk, and the Royals' No. 26 prospect finished his second six-inning appearance of 2023.

To start the sixth, the Loons signaled to bring in Juan Morillo. The umpires, due to Morillo not being on the lineup card presented to them, was not allowed to enter. Reinaldo De Paula, on short notice, came in and struck out the side.

De Paula’s seventh started with a strikeout as well but was followed by a high fly ball to right struck by Gavin Cross that was misplayed in right field. After another walk, Christian Suarez was tasked with working out of a jam, but a single, three walks and a catcher’s interference followed to make it a four-run inning.

Quad Cities scored three more, one-off three singles in the eighth facing Franklin De La Paz and two in the ninth from a two-run double by Gavin Cross against Carlos De Los Santos.

In the final three innings, the Loons offense managed just two walks, going down in order in the ninth.

Great Lakes has taken three of the first four in the series and are back tomorrow Saturday, May 6th, with a first pitch of 1:05. Saturday is Show your 4H Pride so wear your gear to the game as we celebrate the Head, Heart, Hands, and Health.

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.