TinCaps Blank Loons in First Half Finale

The Great Lakes Loons have scored 110 runs so far in June, good for tops in the Midwest League Eastern division since the start of the month.

Thursday night at Parkview Field in Fort Wayne, Ind., the Loons could not muster a single one.

A day after clinching the first-half division title, Great Lakes is shut out by the Fort Wayne TinCaps, 3-0, in the first half finale.

Fort Wayne (27-39) scored its first run in the third inning. After Corey Rosier singled to lead off the frame, he moved to third on an errant pickoff throw. One batter later, Robert Hassell drove him in with a single for his 40th RBI of the year, giving the TinCaps a 1-0 lead.

The TinCaps, High-A affiliate of the San Diego Padres, doubled their advantage in the next inning. Jarryd Dale began the fourth with a double, then a one-out RBI single from Angel Solarte put the home side ahead, 2-0.

Great Lakes (40-26) would pull its starter, Kyle Hurt (L, 4-2), after that fourth frame. Hurt pitched well, allowing four hits and three walks in his four frames, striking out four. One of the two runs charged to Hurt was earned.

Meanwhile, the Loons, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, were shut down by Fort Wayne lefty starter Noel Vela (W, 4-4). Vela allowed three hits and four walks in his six innings of work, picking up four strikeouts and not allowing a run. Vela has now started three games against the Loons this season, and has gone at least five scoreless innings in two of them.

Fort Wayne added its final run in the seventh innings on singles from Rosier, Hassell, and Matthew Acosta, who recorded the RBI to put the TinCaps ahead by the score that would become final, 3-0.

That was the lone run allowed by Loons lefty Lael Lockhart in his four innings of work. Lockhart allowed six hits and a walk while striking out four.

After Vela left, the Loons found no more luck with their offense, thanks to three stellar innings from Gabe Morales (SV, 2). The southpaw did allow four walks, but just one hit, while picking up four strikeouts and a three-inning save.

The Loons mustered just four hits in total, thanks to singles from Jorbit Vivas, Alex De Jesus and Ismael Alcantara, plus the first double at the High-A level for Sauryn Lao. Jonny Deluca walked three times.

For the Loons, it is their fourth offensive shutout of the year, and their first since Thursday, May 26 at South Bend, a 5-0 loss. It is just the second game in June that the Loons have been held to four hits on offense. In June, the Loons have more games with double-digit hits (eight) than games with six hits or fewer (five).

Great Lakes wraps up the first half of the regular season with the best record in the Midwest League Eastern division, and are headed to the playoffs because of it. The series with the TinCaps continues Friday as the second half of the season begins. Great Lakes holds a 2-1 lead in the series, and can secure at least a split in Friday’s action, which begins at 7:05 p.m. The Loons have right-hander Kendall Williams (1-3, 3.89 ERA) as their starter, opposing fellow righty Efrain Contreras (0-2, 5.85 ERA) for Fort Wayne. Pregame coverage begins on ESPN 100.9-FM at 6:50 p.m. with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland.

The Great Lakes Loons have been a 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.