Loons Sunk by Captains in Home Opener

MIDLAND, MI - The Great Lakes Loons struggled to find any offense against the Lake County Captains Monday night at Dow Diamond, losing 8-0 in front of 3,918 Loons fans. The Captains improve to a 3-1 record while the Loons remain winless on the season. The highlight of the night came before the game started when the Loons opened the box that had mysteriously arrived at Dow Diamond in February. The contents: a new mascot named Rall E Camel.

After the Opening Day Celebration parade and festivities, presented by Consumers Energy, Gustavo Gomez (0-1) started out on the hill for the Loons to make his first Midwest League start since leaving with an injury in the middle of last year. Gomez's homecoming to Dow Diamond was spoiled by the Captains, who accumulated five runs on six hits during his brief two innings of work.

"We knew coming in we had a young team this season, but we have a lot of good players," John Shoemaker said after the game. "Once our rotation and bullpen gets some innings under their belt, we'll be a more comfortable and start really winning some games."

The Loons left-handed reliever Mike Thomas entered the game in the third inning and allowed two earned runs on two hits and two walks. The Captains offense was eventually slowed down in the later innings, when Eric Eadington and Jason West combined to limit the visitors to one run on five hits in the final five innings.

The Captains scored runs in each of the first four innings, finding their largest output in the second, in which they scored four runs. A lead-off single, followed by a walk and wild pitch moved Captains runners into scoring position with no outs. Lake County's Levon Washington and Jordan Smith each had RBI-singles in the inning, while Luigi Rodriguez's double to centerfield added two more runs in the second.

Picking up the win was Captains starter Joe Colon (1-0), who held the Loons scoreless through six frames, collecting four strikeouts to two walks along the way. Loons catcher Pratt Maynard led the team offensively with two hits.

The Loons will send Arismendy Ozoria (7-5, 5.40 with Rancho in 2011) to the hill on Tuesday, in game two of the team's series against Lake County. Every Tuesday this season at Dow Diamond will be a Dodgers Route of Champions night, where the Loons will wear Dodgers jerseys and take a look back at former Loons excelling on baseball's biggest stage.

The Great Lakes Loons are a sixth-year Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers and members of the Midwest League. For more information about the Loons, visit Loons.com or call 989-837-BALL.