Loons Pen’ and Late Surge Gets 5-4 Win, Snaps Three-Game Skid

MIDLAND, Mich. – An offensive three-run seventh inning and four scoreless frames from the bullpen supported a Great Lakes Loons (7-6) 5-4 win over the West Michigan Whitecaps (6-7) on a 52-degree partly cloudy Friday night at Dow Diamond.

The Loons snapped a three-game losing streak and avoided what would have been a losing record on the season.

Down 4-2 entering the seventh, the Loons tallied three runs off three hits to jump ahead. With a runner on first and two outs, Alex Freeland ripped a 0-2 pitch, 397 feet to centerfield and 100 mph off the bat for an RBI double. Noah Miller followed up by slapping a single up the middle to score Freeland from second and tie the game.

Kyle Nevin next-up grounded a ball to the infield grass that was rushed and misfired from third baseman Izaac Pacheco. It bounced around in the outfield, allowing Miller to score the go-ahead run, and Nevin moved to third.

It was the third time this week that the Loons had a multi-run inning in one of the last three innings. It was the first instance where the Great Lakes bullpen shut the door.

Christian Suarez completed 1.2 innings, with Brandon Neeck replacing him with two outs in the seventh to end the frame, inducing a groundout. Neeck punched out two in the eighth. Kelvin Ramirez worked around a walk for a clean ninth and save.

Jared Karros started the game for Great Lakes and struck out six, with six Whitecaps hits, five doubles, and four runs.

Rounding Things Out Great Lakes' first two runs were an Alex Freeland 353-foot home run in the first and Kyle Nevin RBI triple in the third.

Up Next The Loons with two straight can split the home six-game series. Tomorrow Saturday, April 20th will be Great Lakes versus West Michigan, first-pitch at 1:05 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons have been 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 Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.