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Captains Rally Late to Steal Series Split with Loons

Loons offense explodes early, Captains mount comeback
April 24, 2022

MIDLAND, Mich. – After the first four innings at Dow Diamond on Sunday afternoon, the Great Lakes Loons had a 6-0 lead over the Lake County Captains. After that, it was all Captains. Lake County scored nine unanswered runs in the final five frames to defeat the Loons, 9-6, in

MIDLAND, Mich. – After the first four innings at Dow Diamond on Sunday afternoon, the Great Lakes Loons had a 6-0 lead over the Lake County Captains.

After that, it was all Captains.

Lake County scored nine unanswered runs in the final five frames to defeat the Loons, 9-6, in the final game of the six-game series.

The Loons (5-10) got out to a hot start, with two runs in the first inning. Jonny Deluca singled with two outs in the first inning, then stole second base. After Aldrich De Jongh walked, Zac Ching doubled them both home to put Great Lakes up 2-0.

The offense continued to roll with two outs in the second inning. Leonel Valera smacked a solo shot for the lone run in the second inning, and the Loons then led 3-0.

In the third inning, Great Lakes put five straight aboard, including an RBI double from Valera and a two-run double from Eddys Leonard to score three runs and double the Loons’ advantage, 6-0. All six runs were charged and earned to right-handed starter Tommy Mace.

At the same time, Loons starter Kyle Hurt had a great outing, tossing three scoreless frames. The only baserunner he allowed was one single, and he racked up five punchouts. After a shutout start on Tuesday, Hurt ends the week with an impressive six shutout frames, allowing just three hits and a walk while striking out 10.

Cole Duensing followed that up with a perfect fourth inning, striking out a batter as well.

In the fifth inning, it seemed as though a switch flipped for the Lake County (7-8) offense. Jake Cantleberry walked three batters in the frame, then with two outs allowed a grand slam to Joe Naranjo. What was a comfortable six-run lead for the Loons shrunk to a two-run margin with one swing of the bat.

Lake County, the High-A affiliate for the Cleveland Guardians, would continue to chip away at the Loons’ lead in the sixth and seventh innings. Jhonkensy Noel hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to bring the Captains within one. In the seventh, two straight hits for Lake County gave them the game-tying run, thanks to an RBI double from Naranjo.

Both teams traded scoreless half-frames in the eighth inning. Loons righty Braydon Fisher tossed that shutout frame, allowing just one hit while striking out two.

That led to the decisive ninth inning. Connor Kokx led off the frame with a double for Lake County, followed by a walk to Naranjo. After that, Great Lakes southpaw Adam Scoggins (L, 0-1) got two outs in the frame before allowing a first-pitch, three-run home run to Noel, his second blast of the game, third of the series, and fourth of the young season. That put Lake County up 9-6, which would be the final. The Loons, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, got two hits in the top of the ninth, but a double play erased one of the baserunners, and a strikeout ended the game.

The Loons and Captains split the six-game series in Midland, and Great Lakes is still in search of its first series win. They will look for that next week, with another six-game series beginning Tuesday at LMCU Ballpark in Comstock Park, Mich., against the West Michigan Whitecaps (7-8). West Michigan took two of three from the Loons in the season-opening series at Dow Diamond. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:35 p.m., with coverage beginning on ESPN 100.9 FM at 6:20 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.