Loons Launch Three Longballs, Rushing Homers Twice in 8-1 Win

Eastlake, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (19-10) are 13-2 in their last 15 games and winners of four straight after downing the Lake County Captains (15-13) 8-1 on a 61-degree sunny Wednesday at Classic Park.

The Loons started the game with two walks, from Austin Gauthier and Dalton Rushing. With one out, Alex Freeland pushed in the game’s first run with a groundout to first base. Freeland has 18 RBI, ranking second on the team.

The inning ended with a groundout to the shortstop from Taylor Young. The ball dropped out of the glove and didn’t appear to be caught by Captains' first baseman Junior Sanquintin, despite the out being recorded. Loons manager Daniel Nava was ejected for arguing the decision.

Dalton Rushing homered twice and has three homers in the first two games of the series. His seventh overall, which leads the Midwest League. A smoked line drive off the signage over the lawn and well past the right-center field fence in the third. The second was smashed to right field as well, clearing the lawn, which led off the top of the fifth.

The top of the fourth netted two runs. Taylor Young’s presence on the bases got one. After a five-pitch walk to begin the fourth, he would steal second. Young moved to third after a popup to first base, the throw to try and get the runner was snapped straight down, and rolled barely into fair territory. Yunior Garcia a batter later, leveled a two-strike pitch down the left-field line. Garcia’s fifth homer of the year.

At the game’s midway point, the Loons led 5-0. Great Lakes starter Yon Castro worked the first four scoreless, he entered the contest not allowing a run in his last two starts, each five innings.

The right-hander’s scoreless inning streak concluded at 14 after two doubles, the second from Victor Planchart that put Lake County on the board. Castro finished five for a third straight start, forcing two flyouts.

Franklin De La Paz threw a scoreless sixth, but the Loons needed two pitchers for the seventh. Carlos De Los Santos collected the first two outs, but an error at first base kept the inning alive. Lake County’s nine and one hitters both walked to load the bases. Great Lakes then turned to Antonio Knowles. The right-hander generated a can of corn to right field to end the inning. Knowles faced the minimum in the eighth, needing just 12 pitches.

The Loons' most fruitful inning was the top of the eighth, with three runs of insurance. Great Lakes didn’t have a hit, but the Captains committed two errors. Chris Alleyne drove in a run with a sacrifice fly.

Aldry Acosta finished the game strong, with a clean ninth. The right-hander concluded the game by enticing his team-leading sixth double-play forced.

Tomorrow Thursday, May 11th will see the first of three games with a 6:35 p.m. first pitch time. Maddux Bruns makes his High-A debut, starting for the Loons.

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.