Stone Earns First Win in 4-3 Burner

EASTLAKE, OH – The Great Lakes Loons (53-45) won their fourth-consecutive game Wednesday night, stranding the bases loaded in the ninth to defeat the Lake County Captains (52-46), 4-3 the final. Los Angeles Dodgers 2020 fifth-rounder Gavin Stone allowed one run in five innings for his first High-A quality start, walking no batters and striking out eight. Brandon Lewis went deep for the 16th time with the Loons and his 26th of the year in a 3-for-4 effort to lead all batters.

As a staff, Great Lakes used six pitchers to tally 14 strikeouts and only allowed four walks. 2021 draftee Lael Lockhart relieved Stone (W, 1-0) for the next 1 1/3 innings, striking out three batters on no walks or hits. Andrew Shaps entered for the ninth inning, but exited after recording only one out and surrendering a run on two walks.

Jeff Belge earned his second save of the month of August, delivering the final two outs with the bases loaded.

Lake County’s Tanner Burns (L, 2-5) exited Wednesday’s game after four innings of work, leaving with four strikeouts and two runs on five hits. Captains relievers Tim Herrin, Andrew Misiazek and Nick Gallagher combined for the final five frames, allowing two runs on six hits, walking none and striking out nine batters.

Following a Tuesday win of 17 runs on 15 hits, Great Lakes led Lake County 2-1 into the eighth inning before Lewis recorded the only HR of the evening. Zac Ching produced a one-out double in the eighth for what would be the winning run, scoring Jorbit Vivas from first. Vivas made his High-A debut with the Loons in the Wednesday win, joining from Rancho Cucamonga after averaging .311 at the plate in 83 games with the Low-A Quakes.

Lake County’s Bobby Bradley continued a rehab assignment for the major-league Indians with a 0-for-3 night and two strikeouts against Loons pitchers, also drawing a walk in the ninth. In two at-bats Tuesday night, Bradley finished 0-for-2 with a pair of strikeouts.

Ryan Ward and Eddys Leonard both doubled and singled atop the Loons lineup, coming in to score two of the four runs in the Wednesday win. Ward’s single in the seventh gave him 12 total bases in two games.

Despite the one-run win, the Loons offense finished 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position, while the Captains finished 3-for-10 in the same stat. Playing in their 25th one-run game Wednesday night, the Loons have struggled in the scenario, winning just their eighth.

Hopping out to a quick two-games-to-none lead in this series, a Thursday win ensures the Loons at least a split series outcome in Eastlake. Thursday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 7:05 P.M. EDT from Classic Park, with coverage on the Loons On-Deck Circle, Built by Three Rivers, beginning at 6:35 P.M. EDT.

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.