Playoff Bound Once Again
EASTLAKE, Ohio -- From the very start, it seemed like the wait would only last one extra day. After failing to clinch a Midwest League Playoff spot in their first try on Tuesday night, the Great Lakes Loons completed the job on Wednesday as they shut out the Lake County
EASTLAKE, Ohio -- From the very start, it seemed like the wait would only last one extra day. After failing to clinch a Midwest League Playoff spot in their first try on Tuesday night, the Great Lakes Loons completed the job on Wednesday as they shut out the Lake County Captains 5-0 to clinch their 7th postseason berth in franchise history.
It's the 3rd time the Loons (41-22) have clinched a playoff spot in the 1st half of the season, with the others being 2010 & 2015. Great Lakes was in the MWL Playoffs last year, but were swept in the Eastern Division Semifinals by the West Michigan Whitecaps. Back in 2016, the Loons made the most of their post-Labor Day baseball capturing their first MWL championship.
Overall, the Loons have a 13-15 record in postseason play, and have split their 10 series played going 5-5. They fare much better at home (8-5) than they do on the road (5-10) in the playoffs.
As for the clinching game, John Rooney (W, 3-1) made things uneventful as he was nearly untouchable in his start going 6.2 scoreless innings with five strikeouts. Nathan Witt and Brett de Geus combined to allow one baserunner the rest of the way.
After scoring runs on a wild pitch and a fielder's choice in the 2nd inning, and adding another via a Matt Cogen single in the 4th, it was MWL All-Star Niko Hulsizer who crushed his 14th home run of the season to cap off the celebratory afternoon.
The best first half in Loons franchise history came in 2010 when they finished with a 43-26 record (.623). The Loons' current win percentage is .651. This 2019 team needs just one win in their final four games to earn the highest 1st half win percentage in franchise history. The Loons would need to win their final four games to earn the highest win% for any half (.672).
Playoff schedule and ticket information has not been finalized yet. Stay tuned to Loons.com for updates on when the Loons will be playing their playoff game(s) at Dow Diamond and when tickets will go on sale.
John Rooney: 6.2 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 5 K (86 pitches, 57 strikes)
Niko Hulsizer: 2-for-4, HR (14), 2 RBI
James Outman & Matt Cogen: RBI
June 14: PRIDE Night; postgame concert by 'Valentiger'
June 15: Home Improvement Night feat. appearance by Richard Karn (Al Borland)
June 16: Prostate Cancer Awareness Day feat. postgame Father's Day catch on the field
June 17: Midwest League All-Star Game (South Bend, Ind.)
June 20: Lucky Hot Dog Night feat. X-Pogo Stunt Team
June 21: Polish Heritage Night feat. Feel Good Fridays & Extra Innings
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.
Dragons Walk-Off Loons on Wild Pitch
DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (15-15) and Dayton Dragons (10-20) went to extra innings, forced by a ninth-inning Loons tally, but Great Lakes ultimately came up short in 10 innings, by the score of 3-2 on a 67-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Wyatt
A Four-Run Ninth and Copen’s 12 Strikeouts Deliver Epic Loons Comeback 4-3 Win
DAYTON, Ohio. – Patrick Copen struck out 12 Dayton Dragons (9-20) and the Great Lakes Loons (15-14) offense scored four runs in the top of the ninth in a 4-3 comeback victory on a 73-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Day Air Ballpark. - Patrick Copen dazzled and struck out
Gutierrez Shines in Gem City, Throws Five Scoreless in Loons 3-2 Win
DAYTON, Ohio. – Roque Gutierrez provided the Great Lakes Loons (14-14) with five scoreless innings, the longest relief appearance by a Loon this season, to secure a 3-2 win over the Dayton Dragons (9-19) on a 71-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Day Air Ballpark. - For the 13th time
Wagner and Rojas Each Drive in Two, Loons Win Series Finale 7-3
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (13-14) went 5-for-12 with runners in scoring position to win their third series finale this year, a 7-3 win over the Quad Cities River Bandits (18-8) on a 58-degree partly cloudy Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Each team scored two in the
River Bandits Take Both Games in Doubleheader
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (12-14) were held to one run in two seven-inning contests dropping game one 8-1 and game two 4-0 to the Quad Cities River Bandits (18-7) on a 48-degree partly cloudy Saturday night at Dow Diamond. Game One - The Loons and River Bandits
River Bandits Hold On, Win 7-5 Over Loons in Front of 6,010 on School Kids Day Game
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (12-12) pitching walked 10, but two Quad Cities River Bandits (16-7) errors in the ninth put the potential tying runner at the plate after three Loons runs. The River Bandits were able to finish, forcing a game-ending flyout and grabbing a 7-5 win on
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Saturday
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (12-11) and Quad Cities River Bandits (15-7) Thursday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Dow Diamond. The Loons and River Bandits will play a doubleheader on Saturday, May 3rd. Game one will start at 5:00 p.m., with game two
Martinus’ Late Heroics & Loons Bullpen Grab 6-5 Win to Finish April
MIDLAND, Mich. – A Mairo Martinus RBI single in the eighth and a bullpen that went 5.1 scoreless pushed the Great Lakes Loons (12-11) past the Quad Cities River Bandits (15-7) a 6-5 win on a 58-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - Great Lakes is now 4-3
River Bandits Boast 12 Run, 12 Hit Game, Take Series Opener over Loons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Quad Cities River Bandits (15-6) scored in seven of nine innings, winning 12-5 over the Great Lakes Loons (11-11) on a 58-degree and windy Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - The River Bandits had four doubles over the first three innings, accounting for four of their
Loons Take Wild Game 12-11, Vetrano & Hope Each Nab Four Hits
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (11-10) four multi-run innings were enough to beat the Lake County Captains (12-9) 12-11 in a chaotic contest on a sunny 50-degree Sunday afternoon at Classic Auto Group Park. - Joe Vetrano had a career day. The 22-year-old drove in five runs, off
Loons Drop Doubleheader to Captains, Held to One Hit in Game Two
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (10-10) scored first in both games but could not hold off the Lake County Captains (12-8) dropping game one 6-1 and game two 3-2 on a chilly 45-degree partly cloudy Saturday night at Classic Auto Group Park. Game One - The Loons had
Tonight’s Loons Game Postponed, Doubleheader Set for Tomorrow
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (10-8) and Lake County Captains (10-8) Friday night game has been postponed due to inclement weather at Classic Auto Group Park. The Loons and Captains will play a doubleheader tomorrow Saturday, April 26th. Game one will start at 5:00 p.m., with game two
Copen K’s Seven, Loons Win 3-1 Permit No Earned Runs
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – Great Lakes Loons (10-8) pitching was sensational, striking out 11 Lake County Captains (10-8) in a 3-1 win on a 72-degree partly cloudy Thursday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - Patrick Copen struck out seven Captains batters and stranded five runners. The right-hander worked around a
Captains Shutout Loons 4-0, Snap Four-Game Winning Streak
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (9-8) offense was blanked for the first time this year ending a season-best four-game winning streak, a 4-0 loss to the Lake County Captains (10-7) on a 71-degree partly cloudy Wednesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - Lake County scored three runs
Thompson Hits Grand Slam, Fox Strikes Out Seven in Loons 9-3 Win
EASTLAKE, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (9-7) offense hit two home runs, and the pitchers struck out 14 Lake County Captains (9-7) in a 9-3 series opener win on a 54-degree partly cloudy Tuesday night at Classic Auto Group Park. - The Loons offense provided two four-run innings. In
Loons Win Series; Hope, Myers and Wagner Each Drive in Two
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (8-7) produced eight runs on eight hits, taking their third straight game over the Dayton Dragons (5-10), an 8-4 win on a 49-degree sunny Easter Sunday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - The Loons continued their first-inning dominance this year, with a three-run frame.
Loons Hang On for 5-4 Win over Dragons, Now .500
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (7-7) had two more hits, one less error, and one more run than the Dayton Dragons (5-9), a 5-4 win on a 52-degree cloudy Saturday afternoon at Dow Diamond. - Payton Martin made it through 5.1 innings, his second-longest pro-outing, earning the win.
Loons Homer Four Times, Hope Hammers Two in 7-2 Win
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (6-7) notched four home runs, two from Dodgers No. 6 prospect Zyhir Hope in a 7-2 win over the Dayton Dragons (5-8) on a 69-degree cloudy Friday night at Dow Diamond. The game was delayed for 50 minutes due to rain entering the
Dayton and Great Lakes Combine for 29 Strikeouts and 22 Walks, Dragons Win 9-2
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (5-7) pitching struck out 15 batters but walked 12, five in the final three innings in a 9-2 loss to the Dayton Dragons (5-7) on a 65-degree overcast Thursday night at Dow Diamond. - Jackson Nicklaus notched his first Loons hit and first two
De Paula’s Grand Slam Elevates Loons Over Dragons
MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (5-6) answered a Dayton Dragons (4-7) four-run top of the eighth with a seven-run bottom of the eighth highlighted by a Josue De Paula grand slam. The Loons won 10-5 on a 53-degree sunny Wednesday night at Dow Diamond. - Both starters allowed
Dragons Dominate 10-2, Hope Has Fifth Multi-Hit Game
MIDLAND, Mich. – A Dayton Dragons (4-6) seven-run fourth inning catapulted them to a 10-2 win over the Great Lakes Loons (4-6) on a cloudy 42-degree windy and cloudy Tuesday night at Dow Diamond. - The Loons tallied the game’s first run. Nelson Quiroz rifled an RBI double to the
George Homers Twice, Hope Has Four Hits in Loons 12-11 Loss in Extras to Lansing
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (4-5) delivered 11 runs off 14 hits but it was not enough to best the Lansing Lugnuts (4-5) in a 12-11 loss on a cloudy 54-degree Sunday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. - Kendall George homered twice. The Dodgers No. 15 prospect went yard
Loons Seven Run Seventh Earns 12-6 Win in Marathon Matinee
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (4-4) were held to three runs through the first six innings but would stamp seven in the seventh and take down the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5) 12-6 on a sunny 52-degree Saturday afternoon at Jackson® Field™. - In the top of the seventh, Great
Lugnuts Comeback Winners 4-3, Hope Homers for Loons
LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (3-4) got five scoreless innings from Brooks Auger and a Zyhir Hope homer but could not hold on, dropping the contest 4-3 to the Lansing Lugnuts (3-4) on a partly cloudy 51-degree Friday night at Jackson® Field™. - Brooks Auger went 5.2 innings
Loons Strikeout 13 Lugnuts, Hang On 3-2
MIDLAND, Mich. – Great Lakes Loons (3-3) struck out 13 Lansing Lugnuts (2-4) batters, and Joe Vetrano added a two-run double in a 3-2 Loons win on a chilly and cloud 39-degree Thursday evening at Jackson® Field™. - Great Lakes pitchers punched out 13 but also walked nine. Not one