Loons Battle, Fall in Extras

LANSING, Mich. - Dodgers' ninth-round selection Josh McClain smashed four hits to right field, drove in two runs and stole two bases, but the Loons lost a 4-3 decision in 10 innings to the Lansing Lugnuts on the summer solstice at Cooley Law School Stadium. ñ ü
McClain, 21, produced one of the greatest Loons' debuts in franchise history with a 4-for-5 performance at the plate that included a double and a triple. He did not score as the Loons stranded 11 on base and batted 1-for-15 with runners in scoring position. The right-hander out of North Carolina State shot all four of his base knocks into right field, the opposite way, and with the exception of his line-drive single in the second inning, all of his hits occurred on the first pitch of the at-bat (his aforementioned single went into play on the second pitch). 
Brock Carpenter homered for the Loons in the second inning off Lansing starter Matt Gunter, and the Loons built a 3-0 lead over the course of the first four innings. Carpenter's home run was his first of the season and second of his Loons' career.
Loons' starter Alfredo Tavarez displayed erratic command (45-of-77 pitches for strikes), but managed to keep Lansing off the scoreboard through five innings. Despite a wild pitch, three walks and a hit batter, the Loons' defense triggered three ground-ball double plays behind Tavarez to end an inning.
When the bullpen assumed control of the hill, Ryan Noda brought the Lugnuts back. The first baseman drove in Lansing's first run of the game on a double in the sixth off fellow lefty Justin Hoyt, and tied the game in the eighth on a triple versus Dan Jagiello. Noda also scored as part of a three-hit night.
The game ended on a botched play in the 10th inning. With runners on first and second and nobody out, Lansing's two-hole hitter Yeltsin Gudiño dropped a sacrifice bunt that rolled out towards the mound. Loons' reliever Sven Schüller hesitated as he approached the ball along with second baseman Devin Mann. Although Schüller fielded the ball with time to make the out at first, he alligator-armed the throw from flat ground up the first-base line. Reggie Pruitt scored from second on the error to win the game for Lansing.
The Loons begin the second half of the season with seven straight on the row. Game two in Lansing is Friday night 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.