Loons Clinch First MWL Championship

MIDLAND, Mich. - In one of the wildest games you will ever see, the Great Lakes Loons outlasted the Clinton LumberKings 9-8 to become the 2016 Midwest League Champions on Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. It's the first time in franchise history that the Loons have claimed the league title since their inception in 2007.

Each team used five pitchers and there were four different lead changes. But it was a five-run bottom of the 6th inning that would prove to be the difference.

Plagued by walks in their Game 1 loss to Clinton, the Loons were gifted four of them in the 6th. Zach McKinstry and Jake Henson each walked to begin the frame, followed by a single from Matt Jones to load the bases. The big left-handed first baseman went 4-for-4 with doubles in the ballgame.

The next two batters, Darien Tubbs and Saige Jenco, got Great Lakes on the comeback trail as they each drove in a run via the walk. Shortstop Brendon Davis was responsible for the tying run when he laced a ball to center field for a sacrifice fly to make it 7-7. It was then Logan Landon, on the Opening Day roster for the Loons back in April, who doubled in the go-head runs with two outs to make it 9-7.

The Loons battled over the final three innings using pitchers Victor Gonzalez (H, 1) and Dean Kremer (SV, 1), who pitched the final 2 2/3 innings only allowing one hit and one walk. Davis was responsible for recording the final out when Clinton's Chris Mariscal popped out on the infield.

Getting the nod to start the game for the Loons was Yadier Alvarez. The Cuban right-hander allowed three runs on four hits in three innings of work. He issued three walks to go along with five strikeouts. Righty Ivan Vieitez was saddled with four runs on five hits after his 2 1/3 innings of relief following Alvarez. The steady hand was Karch Kowalczyk (W, 1-0) who worked his way through trouble and had two punch outs to get Great Lakes to that pivotal bottom of the 6th.

Both teams scored three runs in the 2nd to get on the board early. The LumberKings had Alex Jackson blast a ball deep into the afternoon sky for a 395-foot home run, while Mariscal had a two-run double to widen the margin. But the Loons responded with a run-scoring single from Henson and one of Jones' two singles on the day to tie the game.

In the bottom of the 4th the Loons would push in front with a Jenco single to score Jones from second base. But in the next half inning a leadoff home run by Dalton had us tied once again.

Clinton looked as though they were going to take control of the game in the top of the 6th inning when they plated three runs of their own, highlighted by a two-run home run by Mariscal. The LumberKings second baseman went 2-for-5 on the day, both extra-base hits, to go along with four runs batted in.

Matt Walker (L, 0-1) was charged with allowing four runs on one hit and three walks. Joey Strain (BS, 1) allowed the final run for the Loons to go along with two strikeouts.

The 2016 Midwest League Champions and hosts of the 2017 MWL All-Star Game have been a Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. For tickets and more information about the Great Lakes Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.