Loons Winning Streak Ends at Seven

MIDLAND, Mich. - The Great Lakes Loons (25-41) had their best winning streak in almost three years come to an end on Thursday night, falling to the West Michigan Whitecaps (31-35) by a score of 5-2 at Dow Diamond. The Loons win streak was halted at seven games, a season high. It was Great Lakes' best streak since July 2010.

"Tonight, we obviously didn't swing the bat as well as we have the past few days and we didn't pitch as well as we have over the last week or so," Loons manager Razor Shines said. "Sometimes you need to give a little bit of credit to the other team. They threw the ball really well and they swung the bats well. I tip my hat to them tonight."

West Michigan cleanup hitter Jeff Holm gave the Whitecaps an early 2-0 lead, hitting a 415-foot solo home run to right field in the second inning and doubling to left-center field in the third to score designated hitter Devon Travis, who was 3-for-5 on the night with two runs scored. Hold was 2-for-5 in the game.

The Loons got their first run of the game in the home half of the third. Baldwin reached and advanced to third base on an error by Lance Durham at first base before scoring on a single from Leo Rodriguez, who was 3-for-4.

"When I was up at the plate, I wanted to see how the pitcher was throwing, what type of delivery he had and where he was throwing his pitches," Rodriguez said. "Tonight, when I got two strikes, I just focused on protecting the plate. The strike zone can change a little bit, so I just tried to adjust and I was able to have some success."

The Whitecaps added their third run of the game in the fourth inning. Two-hitter Jared Reaves singled with the bases loaded to score David Gonzalez. Adolfo Reina tried to come home from second on the play, but was thrown out at home by Loons right fielder Jeremy Rathjen.

Zachary Bird (1-2), the Dodgers No. 19 prospect, started for the Loons and went 3 2/3 innings, giving up three runs on six hits to take the loss. Bird struck out four and walked three.

West Michigan five-hitter Lance Durham, who was 2-for-4, hit a two-run home run in the fifth against Great Lakes reliever Luis Meza that went 420 to right field to extend the Whitecaps lead to 5-1.

Endrys Briceno, the Detroit Tigers No. 22 prospect, started for West Michigan and threw five good innings, holding the Loons to one unearned run on two hits en route to a win. Briceno struck out three and walked one.

Great Lakes scored their second run of the game in the sixth inning. Kevin Taylor hit a bases-loaded groundout that scored Rodriguez. The Loons ended the frame with stranded runners at second and third.

The Loons rally in the sixth was their last real threat in the game. Great Lakes did not get a runner past first base in the last three innings until Rathjen reached second with one out in the ninth, but Winker and Garvey both struck out swinging to end the game.

West Michigan closer Jose Valdez pitched a scoreless ninth, including two strikeouts, to pick up his 14th save of the season, second in the Midwest League.

Midwest League All-Star Tyler Ogle had a solid game for the Loons, going 1-for-3, with a double and a walk.

"My approach today was just stay on the fastball," Ogle said. "This team has been throwing me nothing but off-speed the past two games, but I was going to change for them. I saw a couple fastballs today. I was able to put one in the gap and sometimes it's a game of luck. Today I only got lucky once."

Great Lakes relief pitcher Scott Griggs pitched two scoreless innings at the end of the game, giving up one hit and striking out three, while walking one.

The Loons head to Eastlake, Ohio this weekend for a four-game series with the Lake County Captains (21-42) to close the first half. They open the series on Friday night, with game time at 7 p.m. Miguel Sulbaran (3-2, 4.64 ERA) is the projected starter for Great Lakes and Robbie Aviles (1-2, 7.56) is expected to start for Lake County. The game will be aired live on ESPN 100.9-FM and on ESPN1009.com, with the broadcast starting at 6:30 p.m.

The Great Lakes Loons are a seventh-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.