Loons Pitching Sinks Captains 4-1

Eastlake, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (18-10) are winners in their last three and the first game this week against the Lake County Captains (15-12) after a dominant pitching performance where the Captains were held to one run and five hits on a 60-degree night at Classic Park.

Justin Wrobleski delivered the longest outing of his minor-league career. The left-hander saw the first two batters reach, and then aptly responded striking out three through five in the Lake County order. In the second, the 22-year-old forced a double play, and in the third, stranded a baserunner. The fourth was Wrobleski’s best a 1-2-3 11-pitch frame.

In the top of the second, Austin Gauthier, coming off being named the Midwest League Player of the Week, drove in the game’s first two runs with a single. Chris Alleyne and Ismael Alcantara were the runners plated, Alleyne reached on a walk, after a ball lifted down the left-field line was ruled a home run and then was overturned.

Dalton Rushing’s third at-bat led off the top of the fifth, the Loons catcher launched a no-doubter. A tater to right field, that cleared the batting cages and adjoining clubhouse pasted the right field lawn, to make it 3-0.

The bottom of the fifth, saw two Captains reach. Lake County’s catcher Micael Ramirez singled, and second baseman Christian Cairo walked. Loons right fielder Ismael Alcantara recorded the second out for Great Lakes making a great play in foul territory, the last out recorded by Justin Wrobleski. Christian Suarez inherited two on and two out and got a groundout to end the inning.

Insurance was added in the top of the eighth. Jake Vogel reached on a catcher’s interference, after a second out was recorded, the next three batters would not be denied. Alcantara singled, Luis Diaz walked, and set up the bases loaded for Austin Gauthier. The Midwest League leader in on-base percentage, worked a seven-pitch walk, to extend the lead to 4-0.

The bullpen came to play. Christian Suarez struck out two, in 1.1 innings. Mitchell Tyranski pitched the next two frames, striking out three and permitting just one baserunner.

Reinaldo De Paula was tasked with the ninth, Lake County managed to get a multi-hit inning and a run across. Dayan Frias plated a run with a sacrifice fly after the bottom of the ninth started with two singles. Three outs followed, including a strikeout of the potential tying run.

Game two will see an early wake-up call, with the first pitch at 11 a.m. tomorrow Wednesday, May 10th.

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.