Loons Win Number 50

MIDLAND, MI - Down three runs in Wednesday night's game against Dayton, the Great Lakes Loons (16-15, 50-51) never gave up and battled back to defeat the Dragons 9-7 in front of 3,954 fans in attendance at Dow Diamond for their 50th win of the season.

The Loons scored three runs in the sixth to tie the game at seven runs apiece on Pedro Guerrero's two-run home run. Then in the bottom of the eighth, third baseman Jesse Bosnik slapped a single to left field for the go-ahead run.

"In that situation, the pressure's on [the pitcher], you know, with guys on first and second and one out," Bosnik, who went two-for-four with two RBI, said after the game. "You're just trying to get a good pitch. I didn't try to go too big or do too much, but just tried to let the moment come to me. I live for those moments. Everyone wants to be in that situation. That's why you work hard."

Adding an insurance run with an RBI-single to center that made it 9-7 was Jesus Arredondo. Picking up the win defensively was Loons reliever Mike Thomas (4-2), who fanned two Dragons in one inning of scoreless baseball. Steven Rodriguez picked up the save, his second, with two strikeouts in the ninth.

The Loons possessed their first lead entering the fifth inning 3-2, but the Dragons took off for four runs on two home runs with Loons starter Greg Wilborn on the mound. The Loons lefty finished with five innings in which he allowed six runs, five earned, on six hits. Wilborn struck out six, but allowed three homers, five walks and one throwing error. Jose Dominguez logged two innings for the Loons and accounted for three of the Loons 13 strikeouts.

Five Loons had two-hit nights: Bosnik, Pratt Maynard, Guerrero, Arredondo and Darnell Sweeney, who also recorded his first professional home run in the third inning. His two-run bomb would have scored three if Dayton starter Jacob Johnson hadn't balked a run in during Sweeney's at-bat.

The Loons have won 10 of their last 14 games and now sit fifth in the division, only one game back from the final playoff spot, currently held by the West Michigan Whitecaps.

The Great Lakes Loons will play game two of the series Thursday at Dow Diamond. Getting the start for the Loons will be RHP Duke von Schamann (2-0, 2.33) against the Dragons RHP James Allen (6-3, 3.77). Fans attending the game can enjoy one dollar hot dogs, 16 oz. Coke products and ice cream sandwiches courtesy of Chemical Bank's $1 Family Feast Night. Game time at 7:05 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons are a sixth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and are in the middle of their 5th Anniversary Celebration, which kicked off in August 2011 and will continue throughout the 2012 season. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.