Loons Back In Action Today After Saturday's Rainout
MIDLAND, Mich. - After a soggy Saturday, the Great Lakes Loons hope for drier conditions and a chance to play baseball today.
The Loons and Quad Cities were rained out Saturday night at Dow Diamond and will play a doubleheader today. The first game begins at 12:05 p.m., with gates scheduled to open at 11:30 p.m.. Both games will be seven-inning contests.
Saturday's scheduled starter, Luis Chirinos, will start today's first game. Greg Harriswill start game two. Both Chirinos and Harris are 1-0 on the season, with Harris' win coming in the Loons home opener Tuesday at Dow Diamond.
A native of Venezuela and a former draft pick of the Miami Marlins, Chirinos is in his first season with the Loons. Harris, the son of veteran major leaguer Greg Harris, is also in his first season with Great Lakes.
The Loons (4-4) are looking to snap a three-game losing streak today. Quad Cities won Friday's series opener 6-4 behind solid pitching from Adrian Houser and Gonzalo Sanudo. Great Lakes rallied with three runs in the bottom of the ninth, but the rally ended with a double play.
Quad Cities, also 4-4, will start right-hander Andrew Thurman in today's opener. Thurman (0-1) is ranked as the Houston Astros' 15th best prospect by Baseball America. Lefty Chris Lee (0-0) will start the second game; Lee is 24th on Baseball America's list of Astros' prospects.
The Loons have five players ranked among Baseball America's top 30 Dodgers prospects: outfielder Jacob Scavuzzo (15), first baseman Justin Chigbogu (18), pitcher Zachary Bird (21), infielder Jesmuel Valentin (22), and pitcher Victor Arano (29). Bird (13), Scavuzzo (14) and catcher Kyle Farmer (20) are listed in MLB.com's Top 20 Dodgers prospects.
Despite their recent skid, the Loons still rank among the Midwest League leaders in several offensive categories. Great Lakes leads in runs (51), doubles (25), RBI (45) and rank third in batting average.
Today will be Family Fun in the SUNday and kids will get to the run the bases free courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance.
The Loons go on the road after today's games and will begin a three-game series tomorrow night in Beloit. They'll then play a three-game set with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers on Thursday. The Loons return to Dow Diamond on Tuesday, April 21 to begin a seven-game homestand against Fort Wayne and Dayton.
The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the team, call 989-837-BALL or visit loons.com.