Pilarski Secures Seventh Save, Great Lakes Win Five of Six in Fort Wayne  

FORT WAYNE, Ind. – The Great Lakes Loons (12-9) held off the Fort Wayne TinCaps (5-16) by scoring two runs in the top of the eighth and stranding five runners in the final three innings, winning 5-2 on a cloudy and rainy Sunday at Parkview Field.

Great Lakes tallied two runs in the eighth to distance themselves from the TinCaps. The Loons scored nine runs in the eighth inning during the six games in the Summit City.

Alex Freeland led off with a walk, stole second, and moved to third after a throwing error from the catcher. Freeland dashed home after a Taylor Young sacrifice fly. Griffin Lockwood-Powell sliced a double to right-center and was followed up by Yunior Garcia going opposite field with a base knock.

Minor League Baseball’s top save-getter, Jake Pilarski took the ball in the bottom of the ninth. He completed a clean ninth, allowing just one baserunner and notching his seventh save of 2023 in seven attempts.

The day started with Ronan Kopp, who had a walk-plagued two-inning outing, but it led to only one run. He worked around a base on balls, a single, and a wild pitch in the first. The left-hander surrendered a single and three free passes in the second for Fort Wayne’s first run but bounced back with three strikeouts.

Great Lakes left two runners on through the first two innings but would not be denied in the top of the third. With two outs, Jake Vogel, Yeiner Fernandez and Damon Keith all singled, Keith plated Vogel to knot up the score.

After a scoreless bottom of the third delivered by Jack Dreyer, Robbie Peto the scheduled piggyback pitcher took the mound. The right-hander had two baserunners reach, via an error and walk through the first two.

In the top of the fifth, the Loons once again produced consecutive singles from Austin Gauthier and Jake Vogel. They moved up a station following a wild pitch. Gauthier came home after a Yeiner Fernandez groundout, Vogel scored after a balk from TinCaps starter Miguel Cienfuegos.

As storm clouds rolled in, Fort Wayne’s Brandon Valenzuela put one out. A deep blast over the right field fence to make it 3-2. Rain poured down for most of the top of the seventh, but not enough to delay the game. Great Lakes left two on.

Aldry Acosta and Michael Hobbs both book-ended their relief appearances with strikeouts and stranded two runners who reached on a single and walk respectively. Acosta threw in the seventh, Hobbs the eighth. The TinCaps had 14 runners left on base.

Monday is an off-day, on Tuesday the Loons return to Dow Diamond beginning a six-game series against the Quad Cities River Bandits (Kansas City Royals High-A). First pitch on Tuesday is at 11:05 am. It is School Kids Day presented by Central Michigan University, and Hometown Heroes brought to you by HSC.

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.