Déjà Vu in Dayton

DAYTON, Ohio - For the fourth time in their last six meetings, the Great Lakes Loons and Dayton Dragons played into the tenth inning and on Friday night at Fifth Third Field it was a Kody Hoese sacrifice fly that granted the Loons a 1-0 victory and a three-game series sweep.
Starters Connor Curlis (Dragons) and Stephen Kolek (Loons) dazzled in one of the better pitcher's duels we've seen this year. Curlis tossed seven shutout innings allowing just six hits and one walk while Kolek tied a career-high with six 2/3 innings ceding four hits and three walks. Neither would factor into the decision.
As we entered the tenth inning scoreless for the second time in the series, Dan Robinson stepped to the plate for Great Lakes. Robinson had already produced seven hits in the set including two in late-game situations. But, Robinson did not have another hit in him. Instead, he grounded-out productively to move Leonel Valera to third base which allowed Hoese to drive him in on a fly ball to left-center field.
Justin Bruihl walked one in the bottom of the tenth, but Dayton could not score. Valera made a back-peddling, tumble-roll of a catch in short left to secure the final out. Friday night's win caps the eighth series sweep of the season for Great Lakes.
Not enough can be said about how good Valera was defensively at shortstop all night. He was on the front end of six 6-3 groundouts in the final five innings and made a circus catch to end the ballgame.
The Loons have now won five in a row and head back to the mitten state to continue their current six-game road trip against the West Michigan Whitecaps (Tigers). First pitch on Saturday night is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. EDT.
UPCOMING PROMOTIONS
July 30: Bark in the Park
July 31: Loons BINGO Night
Aug 1: House Divided Night
Aug 2: Margaritaville Night & Fireworks!
Aug 8: Pop Violinist Daniel Davis
Aug 9: Country Western Night
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.