Gritty Loons Grind Way into Playoff Picture

SOUTH BEND, Ind. - The Loons continued to build a playoff portfolio in a 4-3 win over the South Bend Cubs on Saturday night at Four Winds Field; Drew Avans hit a game-tying home run and a go-ahead sacrifice fly for the streaking Loons, who hopped over West Michigan by a half-game for the second of two spots in the Midwest League playoff race.
West Michigan fell to Lake County 4-2 on Saturday. The Loons trailed West Michigan by four and a half games when August began. The series-opening win in South Bend improves the Loons' record to 13-4 in August.
 
South Bend pounced on right-handed starter Joel Inoa (W, 1-1) early and piled up seven hits and three runs in three innings. The 22-year-old steadied, however, and retired his final nine batters to log a quality start of six innings pitched with two walks and three strikeouts. Inoa, a native of the Dominican Republic, has logged consecutive quality starts for the first time in his three-year career in the Dodgers' organization. 
The Loons' offense also never allowed South Bend to pull too far ahead in the first three frames. Rookie Josh McLain twice pulled the Loons within a run on RBI singles in the second and fourth, respectively. The ninth-round selection also doubled and scored the go-ahead run in the seventh on Avans's sacrifice.
For the third game in a row, the Loons generated 10 or more hits, and Avans once again supplied a bulk of the power. The 22-year-old lefty hooked a 2-2 pitch over the wall in right field in the fifth inning for his second home run in as many games. The blast tied the score at 3-3 and is the 10th home run of Avans's pro career in 47 outings. 
 
The bullpen limited South Bend to one hit over the final three innings. In the eighth, South Bend loaded the bases on an infield single, error and hit batter, but the tandem of righty Stephen Kolek and left-hander Austin Drury (S, 1) maintained the one-run lead down the stretch.
Game two of the series is Sunday at 2:05 p.m. EDT. Four-time Major League All-Star Yu Darvish is expected to make a rehab appearance and start the game for South Bend at Four Winds Field.
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.