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Loons Relievers Twirl One-Hit Shutout in Peoria

Five Pitchers Combine to Produce 4-0, Series-Ending Win Over Chiefs
July 28, 2014

PEORIA, IL - With the Great Lakes Loons batting and two outs in the top of the first inning, reliever Jordan Hershiser got a most unexpected hurry-up call in the bullpen. Starting pitcher Jonathan Martinez would not be making his scheduled start for the morning contest at Dozer Park against the Peoria Chiefs.

Pressed into emergency duty, Hershiser worked through a harried first frame, allowing two walks and a hit but stranding a pair of runners with a strikeout to end the inning. It would be the only hit of the game for the Chiefs, while the Loons offense pounded out eight hits, three of them for extra bases, and salvaged the final game of the three-game series with a 4-0 win on Monday afternoon.

Hershiser worked three innings, issuing a total of four walks (he had seven in 35 IP before today) and that lone hit while striking out two. He was followed by Michael Johnson (1 IP, 2 K), Mark Pope (two perfect innings), Matt Campbell (two perfect innings) and Jacob Rhame (1 IP, K) to complete the sixth one-hitter in Loons franchise history.

The offense got all the runs its pitchers would need in the top of the second inning. Josmar Cordero led off with a double and went to third on a single by Alex Santana. Webster Rivas' groundout to short scored Cordero, while Santana came home on a single to right by catcher Spencer Navin. Chiefs outfielder Nathan Castillo let Navin's hit get past him, putting Navin on third with a two-base error. Two batters later, Brandon Trinkwon laced a double that one-hopped the wall in right-center to score Navin and give the Loons a 3-0 lead after and inning and a half.

The Loons added a run in the ninth thanks to four walks issued by Peoria pitchers in the inning. Malcolm Holland walked three times in the game and added a triple, while Trinkwon walked twice in addition to his RBI double. Joey Curletta extended his hitting streak to 10 games with a single in the third inning.

Peoria starter Arturo Reyes (6-7) took the loss, allowing those three runs (two earned) in six innings. He struck out seven and walked one. The bullpen for the Chiefs issued eight walks in their three innings of activity. Michael Johnson was the winning pitcher for the Loons on a scorer's decision, improving to 4-2 on the season.

Great Lakes returns home to begin a six-game homestand starting tomorrow night against the Fort Wayne TinCaps at Dow Diamond. It's a Dodgers Route of Champions night, and game time is 7:05 p.m., with Greg Harris (7-6, 4.86) starting for the Loons and Cody Hebner (1-1, 2.81) going for the TinCaps. Coverage of the game on ESPN 100.9 FM begins at 6:35 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons are an eighth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers. For tickets and more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com, or call 989-837-BALL.