Garcia, Domecus hit two homers apiece in 12-6 rout
MIDLAND -- After averaging less than five hits a game over the first three games of the 2011 season, the Great Lakes Loons used 13 on Sunday to score 12 runs and split the season-opening series against the Lake County Captains, posting a 12-6 win.
Though the Captains scored first for the fourth-straight time, it did not take long for the Loons to take advantage of the warm, 65-degree day and 12 mph winds out to left. Great Lakes tied the game in the second inning with back-to-back home runs from outfielder Jon Garcia and catcher Steve Domecus.
“Everyone’s ecstatic and just grooving as a team right now,” Domecus said after the breakout game. “It’s good to see everyone succeed. We talk about hitting being contagious, and we saw that today.”
Once the Loons took the lead on a throwing error from Kyle Smith, the team’s run production never let up. Great Lakes scored nine more times across a four-innings stretch. In that time, Garcia produced his second home run of the game, one that sailed out of Dow Diamond, estimated at 403 feet. The Loons grabbed two more runs when, as if following Garcia’s example, Domecus belted a second home run, his ringing off one of the flag poles in left field.
“I don’t think I’ve ever hit back-to-back home runs in my life, and then today [I did],” Domecus said. “I’m usually afraid I’m going to [take a pitch] in the ribs after ‘Johnny’ (Garcia) hits a home run. But he did a good job, ran around the bases and I got my pitch.”
Five different Loons finished the game with multiple hits, as Garcia and Casio Grider led the way with three apiece. Loons shortstop Christian Lara collected three walks in the effort, giving him nine on the season. Garcia leads the league with three homers and Domecus is now tied for second in the category. Domecus had the game-high four RBI.
Loons starting pitcher Ryan Christenson picked up the win, holding the Captains to three runs, two earned, on eight hits through five innings of work. Derrick Cone stepped in to pitch three innings of relief, allowing three runs on four hits, before lefty Brant Stickel tossed a scoreless ninth. Lake County’s Cole Cook was tagged with the loss, surrendering four Loons runs in four innings.
The Loons head out for their first road series against the West Michigan Whitecaps Monday at 6:35 p.m. RHP Garrett Gould will throw for the Loons, while RHP Kevin Eichhorn gets the nod for West Michigan. Great Lakes will return to Dow Diamond on Monday, April 18, for a 6:05 contest against the South Bend Silver Hawks.
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.
