More Home Runs in Loons Win

MIDLAND, Mich. - Home runs were the theme of the entire homestand for the Great Lakes Loons as they added two more homers to their series tally in a 7-1 victory against the South Bend Cubs on Monday night. Over the four games, during which the Loons won three of them against the Chicago Cubs affiliate, the team smacked seven home runs in all to aid their efforts.
Carlos Rincon got the party started in the 3rd inning off South Bend starter Bryan Hudson (L, 0-2) with his 11th home run of the season. The teenager from the Dominican Republic has moved into a tie for second place in the Midwest League for that category with Miguel Mercedes of the Beloit Snappers and the Lake County Captains' Emmanuel Tapia.
Hudson didn't make it much further as he lasted 3.1 innings allowing four runs on eight hits. Marc Huberman kept the Loons at bay for 1.2 innings before Mitchell Hansen tattooed a ball over the wall in right-center field off Cubs reliever Jose Paulino to extend the Loons lead.
The game was never in doubt as the Loons continually built on their lead thanks to five two-hit games from their lineup. Gavin Lux and Oneil Cruz each went 2-for-5 on the night while Cody Thomas and Eric Meza each went 2-for-3 with a hit by pitch. Hansen joined Great Lakes starter Leo Crawford (W, 3-4) as the stars of the night with his double and home run.
For six innings, Crawford kept the South Bend lineup off balance en route to a quality start not allowing a run on just three hits. He issued two walks and had four strikeouts. Sven Schüller (SV, 3) continued his strong performances out of the bullpen for the Loons lowering his season ERA to 1.67 with three innings of one-run relief and three strikeouts.
That's a wrap at Dow Diamond for the first half of the 2017 regular season as the team now heads on the road for seven games in six days against the Dayton Dragons and Bowling Green Hot Rods before the league's mid-season break.
Action returns to Midland on Monday, June 19 with the Midwest League Home Run Derby pres. Chemical Bank followed by the 53rd Annual Midwest League All-Star Game pres. GoGreat.com on June 20. Tickets are still available for both events that will also include a free tailgate on Monday afternoon and a free concert from the Chris Weaver Band following the derby. Also taking place on Monday will be the High School Baseball All-Star Game beginning at 4 p.m.
The 2016 Midwest League Champions and hosts of the 2017 MWL All-Star Game presented by GoGreat.com have been a Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team's inception in 2007. For tickets and more information about the Great Lakes Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.