Loons drop series finale following 1-0 shutout loss to West Michigan Whitecaps in front of record sellout crowd at Dow Diamond

 

The Great Lakes Loons (76-51) have now dropped 7 of their last 9 games after a series ending 1-0 shutout loss to the West Michigan Whitecaps (Detroit Tigers) in front of a franchise record sellout crowd of 6,671 at Dow Diamond in Midland, MI tonight. 

 

Despite some great pitching from both teams, the Loons struggled to produce any offensive support, totalling just 5-combined hits and 1-walk, while stranding 13-total baserunners.

 

The Loons had a great scoring opportunity early on when left fielder Chris Roller reached on a 1-out triple in the bottom of the second, but was thrown out at home plate on a grounder to third by DH Jair Comargo, ending the scoring threat.

 

After 5 2/3 innings in a scoreless pitchers duel, the Whitecaps finally managed to get to Loons starter Jose Chacin in the sixth when West Michigan shortstop Wenceel Perez led off the inning with a triple then scored on an RBI-single off the bat of Cap's second baseman Corey Joyce for a 1-0 West Michigan lead midway through the sixth, as Chacin's day would come to an end after being replaced by Loons reliever Mark Washington with 2-outs in the sixth.

 

Despite a stellar outing, Chacin (11-7, 4.58 ERA) picked up his seventh loss of the year after allowing just 1-run on 5-hits and a walk with an impressive 10-strikeouts through 5 2/3 innings, while Washington (2.65 ERA) was lights-out, allowing just 2-walks with 3-strikeouts throughout the next 3-innings of relief, as Jaciel Alvino (4.98 ERA) came in to close out the game, getting the last West Michigan batter to pop out in the ninth.  

 

West Michigan starter Brad Ross (5-4, 3.00 ERA) was equally as impressive, earning his fifth victory of the season after allowing just 5-hits and a walk with 6-strikeouts through 7-scoreless innings. 

 

The Loons will head back out on the road for a four game series (Sat-Tue) against the Lansing Lugnuts (Toronto Blue Jays) before returning for the final home series of the regular season (Wed-Fri) against the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds) next week.