4-3 win over Peoria is third consecutive come-from-behind triumph
MIDLAND -- The Great Lakes Loons collected 11 hits Friday night to edge out the Peoria Chiefs by a 4-3 final at Dow Diamond, in front of a sell-out crowd of 5,482 fans.
The Loons had been gunned down at home plate two times on potential sacrifice flies earlier in the game, but were able to make their last try count. In the eighth inning, third baseman Christian Lara outran the throw from the outfield for the go-ahead game-winning run. Making his 2011 Dow Diamond debut was Preston Mattingly, who had the final RBI. Peoria manager Casey Kopitzke was ejected after the play, arguing that Lara left the base prior to the catch.
The Peoria Chiefs entered the game boasting the league’s best team batting average of .271 and jumped out early in the run column, scoring two in the first inning on a Greg Rohan home run off of Loons starter Zach Lee.
Lee, on a strict pitch count, left the game prior to the fourth inning, having allowing three runs on four hits in that time. The righty struck out four and walked none. Right-handed reliever Angel Sanchez entered the game for the Loons and offered up five solid innings, throwing 65 pitches and 40 for strikes. Sanchez picked up the win, his first, holding the Chiefs scoreless with only two hits.
Working quickly, Loons reliever Logan Bawcom entered the game in the ninth to deliver three consecutive strikeouts to seal the victory of the Loons.
“I always work quick, no matter if I’m throwing well or not,” Bawcom said, who picked up his fourth save of the year. “The first out is the most important out I feel, so I go out there and try and get the first guy no matter what…I just try to take it one batter at a time.”
The Loons first run came in the second inning, the result of a Bryant Hernandez single into right field that scored Lara. The team tied Peoria in the sixth with three consecutive hits to score two runs. Bobby Coyle, Lara and Blake Dean were the Loons with hits in the inning. Coyle, Lara, Casio Grider and Michael Pericht each finished with two hits.
On Friday, the Loons will play game two of their three-game series against the Peoria Chiefs. Great Lakes will send LHP Ryan Christenson (5-3, 3.08), who was named to the Midwest League All-Star Team on Friday. Starting for Peoria will be LHP Cam Greathouse (3-3, 3.53). Saturday night is Biker Night at Dow Diamond presented by the Midland Community Center, featuring entertainment by the world-famous Chicago Bulls Bucket Boys.
The Great Lakes Loons are a fifth-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.
