Loons Set Attendance Record, Fall to Whitecaps

MIDLAND, Mich. - On a night when the Great Lakes Loons had a record-setting crowd of 6,383 fans in attendance at Dow Diamond, the hosts fell 9-6 to the West Michigan Whitecaps. The largest crowd to watch a Loons game in Midland before Thursday was 6,365 on August 26, 2017, against the Dayton Dragons.
After starting the season 0-10 against the Whitecaps, the Loons (24-41) bounced back with two-straight wins to begin the series and were cruising with a 6-0 lead going into the top of the seventh inning.
But, West Michigan (33-34) scored three in the seventh and three in the eight to tie the game, 6-6. In the ninth, Jose Azocar hit his second triple of the season to drive in two runs and give West Michigan an 8-6 lead, which turned out to be the difference.
Great Lakes plated three first-inning runs on three singles. Brandon Montgomery drove in Brayan Morales, Romer Cuadrado scored Montgomery and Mitchell Hansen pushed Cuadrado across home plate. 
Marcus Chiu, who had hit home runs in each of the first two games of the series, singled to left field in the bottom of the third, driving in Jared Walker. One inning later, Morales stole third base for his 30th of the season. On a throwing error by catcher Brady Policelli, Morales made it home safe for a 5-0 lead. In the fifth, the Loons increased their margin to six runs on a wild pitch by West Michigan starter Brad Bass, allowing Walker to score. 
Bass tossed 5.0 innings and struck out nine hitters before getting removed from the game for Max Green (W, 2-3). Bass allowed six runs (five earned) on nine hits. The 22-year-old did not allow a walk. 
On the other side, Great Lakes starter Andre Jackson threw 5.0 scoreless innings with nine strikeouts. He allowed just two hits and three walks, fashioning electric stuff all night.  
Loons right-hander Sven Schueller took over for Jackson and allowed three runs in 2.0 innings before Andre Scrubb (L, 3-2) relieved him and allowed six runs. Three extra-base hits, of which two were triples, helped the Whitecaps package together nine unanswered runs, taking a 6-0 deficit and turning it into a 9-6 lead by the end of the top of the ninth. 
Azocar broke the tie with a triple to center field off Scrubb, scoring Alexis Garcia and Garrett McCain. Johan Belisario (SV, 1) entered the game in the bottom of the ninth and shut down the Loons, securing a three-run victory for West Michigan. 
The series finale against West Michigan was the last home game of the first half for the Loons. Walker and Scubb will represent Great Lakes at the 2018 Midwest League All-Star Game, which will be held at Cooley Law School Stadium in Lansing, Mich., on June 19.
Prior to the All-Star Break, the Loons have a three-game road series against the Fort Wayne TinCaps from Friday to Sunday to finish out the first half. Great Lakes does not return to Dow Diamond until June 28.
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.