Beloit Odd Couple comes to Midland

Measuring up

Infielder Chris Cates

Height: 5 feet, 3 inches

Shoe size: 8 1/2

Hat size: 7 1/8

Age: 22

Resides: Brandon, Fla.

Pants length: 30 inches. “But I like them baggy.”

Pitcher Loek Van Mil

Height: 7 feet, 1 inch

Shoe size: 12

Hat size: 7 1/2

Age: 27

Resides: Oss, Nd.-Brandt, Netherlands

Pants length: 41 inches

Twenty-two inches separate Beloit teammates

Lou E. Rides the Bull!

 

Loons beat Cougars, Give away diamond

Jaime Ortiz’ solo home run and a second straight night of great pitching was the key as the Loons defeated the Kane County Cougars in front of 2,709 fans at Dow Diamond on Wednesday night by a score of 3-1. 

The Loons struck first in the third when Pedro Baez laced a leadoff double down the left field line.  Later in the inning, Scott Van Slyke recorded an RBI groundout, scoring Baez and making it 1-0 in favor of the Loons.

Kane County would answer a half-inning later when Todd Johnson’s RBI single tied the game at one.

In the bottom of the fifth, Jaime Ortiz launched a solo homerun to right off Cougars starter Jamie Richmond, his second of the season to give the Loons a 2-1 lead.

Van Slyke helped the Loons tack on an insurance run with an RBI single in the eighth making it 3-1. 

Loons’ starter Steven Johnson (2-0) pitched another good ballgame going five solid innings allowing a single run, striking out five and picking his second victory of the season. Jon Dutton pitched two scoreless innings of relief before Matt Sartor pitched two innings without allowing a run and picked up his first save of 2008.

Jamie Richmond started for Kane County and pitched six innings allowing two runs in picking up the loss, dropping his record to 1-1.

The Loons improve to 11-8 while the Cougars fall to 15-4. The Great Lakes Loons are now three games over .500 for the first time in franchise history. 

At the end of the seventh inning, OC Tanner and The Dow Chemical Company held a one-carat diamond giveaway contest at Dow Diamond, with Cindy Walter-Smith the winner of the diamond, valued at over $8,000.

The Loons travel to Davenport, Iowa to take on the newly-named Quad Cities River Bandits for a three-game series beginning Friday night. Game time is 8:00pm from Modern Woodman Park.

 

Kane County tops Loons 6-4, improve to 15-2

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Great Lakes Loons loaded the bases in the ninth inning with the potential tying run at second and winning run at first Monday night, but the team’s rally fell short, and Kane County picked up a 6-4 victory in the first game of a three-game series at Dow Diamond.

The game featured a matchup of two first-place teams, but the contest was marred by sloppy play by both teams.  The Loons (9-8 ) and Cougars (15-2) combined to commit four errors and record two passed balls, three wild pitches, one hit batsman and two balks.

With the game tied 2-2, the Cougars took the lead in the sixth inning off Loons’ reliever Geison Aguasviva (1-1).  Aguasviva walked three batters in the inning, committed a balk, and the go-ahead run scored on a passed ball charged to Kenley Jansen.

Cougars pitchers held the Loons to four hits in the ballgame. 

The Loons attempted a comeback in the ninth inning.  Joe Becker led off the frame reaching on a two-base throwing error on third baseman Christian Vitters, his second of the game.  Justin Friend relieved Branden Dewing and walked Scott Van Slyke.  Later with one out and runners at second and third, Parker Dalton grounded to Vitters, scoring Becker.  Vitters threw late to second in an attempt to retire Van Slyke.  Then with two outs, Erik Kanaby walked to load the bases, but Friend struck out Jaime Ortiz to end the Loons’ rally attempt.

The Loons/Cougars series continues Tuesday afternoon from Dow Diamond.  The game will be preceded by Northwood versus Alma in college baseball action.  Gates open at 2:30pm for a 3pm first pitch.  The Loons’ game will begin at 7:05pm.  Tickets to the Loons’ game will admit fans to both games of the doubleheader.  It’s also Firefighter Appreciation Night.  Kyle Smit (0-1) will start for the Loons.

Rosario’s hit streak now at 15 games

Jovanny Rosario doesn’t change.

And armed with a 15-game hitting streak, nobody’s asking him to alter anything.

The Great Lakes Loons center fielder has a hit in each game of the season, leading the Loons with a .316 average as he takes aim at the Loons’ hit streak record of 19 games set last season by Eduardo Perez.

He singled in his first at-bat Saturday to keep the streak alive.

”I keep my focus the same,” Rosario said. ”If it’s before the game or the first inning or the last inning, right-handed pitcher or left-handed pitcher … no matter what.”

At Ogden last season, Rosario hit .331 with 22 stolen bases. The 22-year-old Rosario also had four hitting streaks of at least seven games, including a season-high 11-game streak.

”I don’t change anything from last year to this year,” Rosario said. ”Pitchers are the same at both places. They throw 94, 95. It’s no different.”

The weather, however, is. Rosario lives in San Isidro, Dominican Republic. He spent three seasons playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Dominican Summer League team before playing in the Gulf Coast Rookie League in 2006.

In 2007, Rosario stayed in Vero Beach, Fla., for extended spring training before reporting to Ogden.

”This is the first time I’ve been this cold,” Rosario said. ”In the Dominican, it’s always 100 degrees, every day. In Ogden, it was always warm.

”I don’t like the cold, but you have to keep your focus on hitting and not on the cold.”

Loons’ Rosario still hot

Today: Peoria (Chris Siegfried, 0-1, 4.20) at Great Lakes (Justin Miller, 1-1, 0.63), 3:05 p.m.

Tuesday twinbill: The Loons face Kane County at 7:05 p.m. Tuesday, but the early attraction features a nine-inning college game between Northwood University and Alma College at 3 p.m. One ticket is good for both games.
Streaks: Jovanny Rosario singled to extend his hit streak to 15 games, while Joe Becker doubled to reach eight games. Rosario has 19 hits during his streak.

Shot down: Great Lakes right fielder Travis Vetters saved a run in the fifth inning when he fielded a single and fired a perfect strike to get Peoria runner Nate Samson at the plate.

Two-fer: Loons cleanup hitter Andrew Lambo hit his second and third homers of the season Saturday. The last Loon to hit two homers in a game was Francisco Lizarraga, who hit two against West Michigan on August 22, 2007.

Solo: Great Lakes catcher Kenley Jansen hit his second homer of the season Saturday, a solo shot in the third inning. Jansen’s two homers account for both of his RBIs.

Short outing: Loons starter Daigoro Rondon lasted just 2 1/3 innings Saturday, giving up seven runs, nine hits and two walks. The Chiefs scored the games first nine runs, with the Loons scoring the next seven.

Sellout: Saturday night’s game against Peoria drew 5,567 fans for the first sellout of the season at Dow Diamond. Attendance was aided by the second annual Loons Pennant Race Saturday morning. More than 1,200 runners competed, receiving tickets to Saturday night’s game.

Alumni: Former Loons reliever Francisco Felix is second on the Advanced A Inland Empire team in strikeouts with 16, despite pitching in relief. Starter Cody White leads the team with 17 strikeouts.

Over-aggressive: In the first inning, the Loons had three hits, but did not score. Jovanny Rosario was thrown out trying to steal second and Erik Kanaby was thrown out trying to go from first to third on a single.

Radio: WLUN-FM, 100.9

Today’s Loon Line

Loons battle back, but fall short 9-7

Andrew Lambo homered twice and the Great Lakes Loons scored seven unanswered runs to close the ballgame, but it still wasn’t enough to mount a comeback.  The Peoria Chiefs scored the game’s first nine runs and won by a score of 9-7 in front of a sellout crowd of 5,567 at Dow Diamond Saturday night.

Loons starter Daigoro Rondon (2-2) got roughed up in his brief start, pitching only 2 1/3 innings allowing nine hits and seven Chiefs’ runs before being forced from the ballgame. Thomas Melgarejo came on in relief and allowed the remaining two runs before settling down and pitching 3 2/3 innings keeping his club in the game.   

While Melgarejo kept Peoria’s bats at bay, his offense began to climb back into the ballgame. Kenley Jansen launched his second home run of 2008 leading off the bottom of the third to make it 9-1. Later in the frame, Andrew Lambo connected for the first of his two longballs on the night, a line drive home run just clearing the fence down the right field foul line bringing home three runs and making the score 9-4 Chiefs.  

In the fourth, controversy brought home two more Loons runs as with runners on second and third and two outs, Erik Kanaby sent a ground ball to Peoria shortstop Nate Samson. The infielder’s throw to first nearly pulled first baseman Blake Lalli off the bag, but infield umpire Phil Henry motioned that Lalli stayed on the bag and that the runner was out. Lalli flipped the ball to the mound, then Henry reversed his call ruling Kanaby safe because Lalli did not have full control of the ball. Two runs scored and the Loons pulled to 9-6.

In the fifth, Lambo hit his second home run of the night, a solo shot to bring the Loons within two runs, but they would come no closer.

In the sixth, Lambo came up with the bases loaded and ripped a deep drive into the left-center field gap, but a great sliding catch by left fielder Cliff Andersen robbed Lambo of extra bases, and the Loons of possibly trying the game.

In the eighth, Lambo came to the plate with the bases loaded to face closer Dustin Sasser who got Peoria out of the jam by striking out Lambo and getting pinch-hitter Brian Mathews to groundout ending the threat.     

Lambo became the first Loon to homer twice in a game since Francisco Lizarraga on August 22, 2007.  The Loons’ three homers is the club’s most since hitting four July 24, 2007 at Beloit.  The loss snaps a three-game winning streak for the Loons.

The Loons fall to 8-7 while the Chiefs up their record to 7-9.

This three-game series against Ryne Sandberg’s Peoria Chiefs concludes Sunday afternoon. Game time is 3:05pm at Dow Diamond. Justin Miller is scheduled to start for the Loons. It’s Family Fun in the SUNday at the ballpark, and all kids can run the bases following the game, courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance. The Loons will also celebrate mascot Lou E. Loon’s second birthday with mascots from statewide sports teams.

Kane County Series features Jedi Mind Trip!

On Monday, the Loons begin a three-game series with Kane County, the top team in the Midwest League.  Monday night is Pirate Night, so be sure to be on your best behavior… You don’t want to have to walk the plank!  Arrrrrrgggg, Matey!

Tuesday features a doubleheader of baseball action.  At 3pm, Northwood battles Alma in college baseball.  The Loons resume their series with the Cougars beginning at 7:05pm.  Tickets to the Loons’ game Tuesday will admit fans to both games of the doubleheader.  It’s also Firefighter Appreciation Night.

Then on Wednesday, come out to Dow Diamond for the final game of the homestand.  It’s College Night, presented by SVSU featuring the College Olympics and a pre- and post-game concert with Jedi Mind Trip.

Tonight’s game features a post-game fireworks show, powered by Dow Corning, and a live concert featuring Three Penny Revue in the Saturday Nights Live concert series, presented by But Light.  Daigoro Rondon will start for the Loons against the Chiefs, managed by Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg.

Jedi home page

Tonight’s Game Sold Out!

Tonight’s game between the first-place Great Lakes Loons and the Peoria Chiefs at Dow Diamond is sold out.  It is the first sellout of the season for the Loons.

The Loons moved into a tie for first place in the Midwest League East last night with a 7-4 win over Peoria.  Great seats are still available for the remaining four games of the Loons’ six-game homestand.  You can get yours by calling 989-837-BALL or by visiting Loons.com.

The Loons-Chiefs series concludes Sunday with a Family Fun in the SUNday.  Following the game, kids can run the bases, courtesy of Farm Bureau Insurance.  Youngsters are also invited to Lou E’s Birthday Bash and Mascot Mania.  The Loons’ ambassador of fun is turning two years old.

Tonight’s game features a post-game fireworks show, powered by Dow Corning, and a live concert featuring Three Penny Revue in the Saturday Nights Live concert series, presented by But Light.  Daigoro Rondon will start for the Loons against the Chiefs, managed by Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne Sandberg.

Today: Great Lakes right hander Bryan Morris (0-1, 5.59) faces Cedar Rapids southpaw Robert Fish (1-0, 4.15) on the road at Veterans Memorial Stadium. Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Monday: The Loons stranded 11 runners and committed four errors as they were shutout by the Kernals. Starter Justin Miller picks up the loss (1-1) despite issuing no earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. Miller’s ERA is a cool 0.63 after 3 starts and 14 innings.

Quality: Daigoro Rondon is the only Loons pitcher to record a quality start for the team through 11 games. A quality start is when a pitcher goes at least six innings and allows no more than three earned runs.

Streak update: Center-fielder Jovanny Rosario had two hits in the Loons 4-0 loss Monday to extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

Running wild: The Kernels stole five bases Monday against catcher Kenley Jansen.

There’s no place like home: The Loons continue to struggle on the road, and are now 2-3 in their last five games. The Loons have two more games at Cedar Rapids to wrap up the longest road trip of the season. Great Lakes returns home Friday to face Peoria, the start of a six-game homestand.

Radio: WLUN-FM, 100.9