Deep Into the Night

After lengthy rain delay, Loons preserve en route to 80th victory

13 James Outman (Alex Seder / Great Lakes Loons)

By Matt DeVries

August 29, 2019

MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Loons are the first team to 80 wins in the Midwest League this season. In what's already been a memorable regular season, the Loons added to it with a 5-3 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Thursday night.After a weather delay that lasted 1

MIDLAND, Mich. -- The Great Lakes Loons are the first team to 80 wins in the Midwest League this season. In what's already been a memorable regular season, the Loons added to it with a 5-3 victory over the Dayton Dragons on Thursday night.
After a weather delay that lasted 1 hour and 42 minutes to begin the night, the late start didn't seem to bother the Loons as they jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the bottom of the 1st inning as James Outman clobbered his 17th home run of the season.
After Miguel Hernandez tied the game with his home run in the top of the 5th, a pair of singles from Jair Camargo and Luke Heyer gave the Loons (80-53) a two-run advantage. Sam McWilliams and Matt Cogen added two more runs one inning later to push the lead to 5-1.
That's where the score would sit until the top of the 9th inning when Dayton was able to make it interesting. Against Jasiel Alvino, the Dragons were able to go single, wild pitch, reach on throwing error and another wild pitch to put two runners in scoring position. Up stepped Jay Schuyler who singled home both runners to cut into the Loons lead. Alvino was able to get to fly outs to preserve the victory.
Cogen and Williams each recorded double in the game, while Cogen, Heyer and Leonel Valera all had two-hit performances.
Robinson Ortiz (W, 4-5) had an outstanding start on the mound for Great Lakes allowing one run on just two hits over 6.0 innings. Ortiz, who's tentatively slated to be the Game 1 starter when the Midwest League Playoffs begin next Wednesday, has now allowed just two runs over his last 20.0 innings pitched.
Aug 30:Hat Giveaway and FIREWORKS!
Sept 5: Midwest League Playoffs vs. Lake County Captains
The Great Lakes Loons have been the 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.