Quintero Hits Go-Ahead Home Run in Ninth, Loons Win 8-6 and Take Series

DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (59-45) (23-17) hit three home runs, with Eduardo Quintero smacking a two-run shot in the ninth to beat the Dayton Dragons (57-49) (18-22) 8-6 on an 89-degree sunny Sunday afternoon at Day Air Ballpark.

- With two outs in the top of the ninth, Dayton’s Victor Diaz was one out away from three scoreless innings. Chuck Davalan throttled a ball off the right field fence that hopped to right center field for a triple. Next-up Eduardo Quintero got a 2-0 pitch in his wheelhouse and lifted it over the left field fence. Quintero had five extra base hits in the series, three doubles and two home runs.

- Gio Cueto and Mairo Martinus each homered this afternoon. Cueto homered in both games he played this week. The 23-year-old catcher put the Loons on the board in the third inning. Martinus, who hit a triple ahead of Cueto’s two-run homer, would go deep himself in the sixth. Martinus, who hit 15 in 94 games with Low-A Ontario, hit his first as a Loon in his fifth game with the club.

- Dragons’ catcher Diego Omana had three hits and three RBI. He drove home a run in the second inning and two in the sixth with a double. Mason Neville hit a opposite field solo home run in the fourth inning. It was the first longball permitted by Tyler Gough in 2026.

- In the late stages, Dayton would take the lead, and Great Lakes would tie the game with no hits gained by either offense. Three walks, two wild pitches and a hit by pitch from Loons’ pitching gave the Dragons a 6-5 lead in the seventh. Emil Morales walked to begin the eighth. A pickoff attempt from catcher Diego Omana to first base bounced into foul ground and Morales sprinted home.

- Davis Chastain earned the final six outs for his eighth win of the season. The right-hander punched out the side in the eighth and held the potential tying run in scoring position in the ninth.

Rounding Things Out

Today, Jair Fernandez became the third Loons manager to earn 200 wins. He has a 200-163 record and is in his third season as the skipper.

Up Next

After an off-day, the Loons begin a six-game homestand against the South Bend Cubs. The series starts on Tuesday, August 11th, with a first pitch of 7:05 p.m. ET.

The Great Lakes Loons have been 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 Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.