Special Night Capped Off with Win

MIDLAND, Mich. - It was a celebratory atmosphere around a blustery Dow Diamond as the Great Lakes Loons celebrated their first Midwest League Championship in franchise history on Saturday night. After the 2016 championship flag and plaque were unveiled and the returning players were honored before the game, the Loons took down the Peoria Chiefs 8-4 in a back-and-forth game.
After Peoria (11-15) jumped out to an early 2-0 lead, the Loons knotted the game 3-3 in the 4th. But the Chiefs jumped back out in front one inning later before the Loons finally took the lead for good with a three-run bottom of the 7th inning.
Carlos Rincon provided the proverbial fireworks with an inside-the-park home run in the 7th inning that scored two runs to push Great Lakes in front. It was Rincon's Midwest League leading 8th home run of the season while his 20 RBI move him into a tie for third place among all MWL players. The young Dominican outfielder is also hitting .333 which, entering play Saturday, would be good for a tie for sixth place in the league.
With a two-run double down the left field line in the 8th to add some insurance for the Loons (12-17), Brendon Davis pushed his batting average above .300 as he went 2-for-4 with two doubles and a walk. Zach McKinstry doubled and drove in a run while Saige Jenco had an RBI in the game, as well.
Starter Devin Smeltzer became the first Loons pitcher with 10 strikeouts in a game since Derrick Sylvester did it on June 12, 2015. Smeltzer allowed four runs on five hits over 4.1 innings pitched.
The bullpen did its job keeping Peoria off the scoreboard to allow the Loons to mount their comeback. Angel German, Vinny Santarsiero (W, 3-0) and Patrick Duester blanked the Chiefs over the final 5.2 innings and upped the team strikeout total to 17 for the game. It's the most strikeouts in a game this season for the Loons, surpassing their previous high of 13 on April 30 against the Dayton Dragons. The franchise record is 21 which occurred back on July 20, 2012.
The rubber game in the series will be Sunday as the Loons will send A.J. Alexy (0-1, 2.03 ERA) to the hill. Peoria will have Bryan Dobzanski (0-2, 6.46) get the start. Gates open at 1 p.m. on a Kids Eat Free Sunday pres. Soaring Eagle Waterpark & Hotel.
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.