Lopez Homers Twice In Snappers 6-5 Loss

The Beloit Snappers (13-14) launched three homers, but fell 6-5 in the series finale to the Great Lakes Loons (10-20) Wednesday afternoon at Pohlman Field before 894 fans.

After starting one hour and forty five minutes after the scheduled first pitch time, the Snappers and Loons concluded their series with Beloit taking two-out-of-three games in the series as they fell in the finale.
The Snappers fell behind early, as the Loons plated a run in the first inning as Bryan Morales led off the game with a double and then stole third base with Romer Cuadrado at the plate. Cuadrado then grounded out to second base, but Morales scored to give the Loons a 1-0 lead. Snappers starter Bryce Conley ran into more trouble later in the inning, as the right-hander loaded the bases, as Mitch Hansen came to the plate. Hansen then grounded out to end inning and keep the Loons to just a 1-0 lead.
The Loons would strike again in the top of the third, as Great Lakes plated two runs on a Brandon Montgomery two-run single that scored Jared Walker and Carlos Rincon who both walked to begin the rally.
Trailing 3-0, the Snappers rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third inning to tie the game. Jesus Lopez led off the frame with his first of two homers, a solo shot to left field to put the Snappers on the board as they trailed 3-1.
After Hunter Hargrove reached, Jack Meggs launched a two-run home run to right-center field to tie the game at 3.
The Loons picked up runs in the fourth and fifth inning before the Snappers picked up a run in the seventh and then in the eighth to tie the game at five.
Lopez then led off the seventh the same way he did the third, as the second baseman hit an opposite field lead-off home run to right field to bring the Snappers within a run as they trailed 5-4.
Hargrove then tied the game in the bottom of the eighth, as he roped a run-scoring double to left-center field to score Logan Farrar to tie the game at 5.
Snappers starter Bryce Conley gave way to southpaw Jared Poché in a scheduled piggy back. Conley went just three innings, his shortest start of the season as he surrendered three runs on four hits while walking and striking out three.
Poché tossed 5.2 innings, allowing three runs on five hits while striking out four, as the southpaw left with two outs in the top of the ninth inning with the bases loaded.
Heath Bowers once again inherited a tough situation, as the right-hander was forced into a bases loaded jam. Bowers then hit Marcus Chui on a 3-2 count to give the Loons a 6-5 edge.
Beloit then attempted a rally, as Jack Meggs sent a single to left to put the tying run aboard with the heart of the order coming up with one away. Unfortunately for the Snappers, outfielder Austin Beck bounced into a game ending double play as the Snappers fell 6-5.
For Lopez, he becomes the first Snappers player to hit two or more home runs in a game since Javon Shelby did so on June 28, 2017 against the Peoria Chiefs.
The Snappers now begin a three-game set with the Lansing Lugnuts Thursday night with first pitch scheduled for 6:30 p.m. . Right-hander Mitchell Jordan (0-0, 2.70) will start for the Snappers, and the Lugnuts will send right-hander Yennsy Diaz (3-1, 2.56). Come out tomorrow for Two Dollar Thursday, Hot dogs, brats, pizza, 12 oz. domestic draft beer and fountain soft drinks can be purchased for just $2. Presented by your friends at Advia Credit Union.
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The Beloit Snappers are a member of the Midwest League and have been the Single-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics since 2013. For more ticket information, contact the Snappers office at (608) 362-2272 or on our website, www.snappersbaseball.com.