Homers Lead Loons over Hot Rods

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons hit three home runs on Tuesday at Dow Diamond for an impressive 10-5 defeat of the Bowling Green Hot Rods in front of 4,637 fans. 
On School Kids Day, the game was scheduled to start at 10:35 a.m. but did not get underway until 11:15 a.m. Nevertheless, the Loons (12-23) were ready to play, striking for three runs in the bottom of the second. 
Against Bowling Green starting pitcher Tobias Myers, Carlos Rincon sent his third home run of the season over the left field wall. One batter later, Starling Heredia smashed his second homer in as many days. Moises Perez followed suit with an RBI double for the 3-0 edge.
Heredia had one hit and 17 strikeouts in his previous 27 at-bats before Monday's game, during which he went 3-for-4 with a home run and three RBI. On Tuesday, he finished 1-for-2 with two RBI and two walks.
The Hot Rods (22-15) tied the game in the top of the third inning on RBI singles from Taylor Walls and Zacrey Law. Bowling Green also scored on a balk from Loons starting pitcher Edwin Uceta. He balked twice during his outing. 
Uceta, 20, went 3.0 innings for the Loons. He allowed three runs on three hits and one walk with five strikeouts. In his previous outing, on May 9 against the Beloit Snappers, Uceta gave up three runs in 4.1 innings. 
In the bottom of the third, Jared Walker hit his team-high sixth homer to right field and new Loons addition Eric Peterson doubled in three runs for a 7-3 lead. Myers took the brunt of the damage for all seven runs and only lasted 2.2 innings. He allowed six hits, three walks and logged three strikeouts. 
After Andre Scrubb replaced Uceta, Eleardo Cabrera launched a solo shot to center field and Devin Davis drew a walk to score Zach Rutherford in the top of the fifth. Rutherford's run marked the final time the Hot Rods would touch home plate. 
The Loons picked up three more on runs batted in from Romer Cuadrado and Walker for a 10-5 lead heading into the ninth inning. 
Devin Hemmerich, who pitched the eighth, remained on the hill for the ninth and shut down the Hot Rods to secure the victory. 
Going 2-for-3 with three RBI and one walk, Peterson increased his batting average to .429 on the season. 
Great Lakes continues its four-game series against Bowling Green at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday at Dow Diamond. The two teams finish the series on Thursday at 7:05 p.m.
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.