Loons skid back up to 6 games following 4-2 loss to Dayton Dragons

 

The Great Lakes Loons' (25-59) losing skid has climbed back up to 6-games (which includes dropping 19 of the last 20 games) after a 4-2 loss to former Loons reliever Aneurys Zabala's new team, the Dayton Dragons (Cincinnati Reds) at Dow Diamond tonight.

 

Zabala didn't play tonight, but the Dodgers sent him and 2017 fourth round draft pick, RHP James Marinan (who was playing in the Dodgers' Arizona Rookie League this year) to the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for MLB reliever Dylan Floro and triple-A RHP Zach Neal (who actually started the season with the Dodgers, before he was traded, along with former Loons infielder Ibandel Isabel to the Reds back in April) on Wednesday afternoon.

 

The Loons struck first when third baseman Luke Heyer was hit by a pitch and Great Lakes RF Carlos Rincon reached on an error, while first baseman Brock Carpenter followed with a single to load the bases, before Rincon and Heyer scored on an infield ground-out by Loons catcher Darrell Miller Jr. to take a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the fourth inning. 

 

Loons starter Alfredo Tavarez was off to a quality start for the Loons, however, his only blemish would come in the fifth when Dayton third baseman Alejo Lopez tripled to lead off the inning, then scored on an RBI-single off the bat of Dragons shortstop Jose Garcia to cut the Great Lakes lead to 2-1 in the top of the fifth inning.

 

Tavarez (4.39 ERA) was replaced by Loons reliever Luis Pasen after giving up 1-run on 4-hits and 2-walks, while striking out 6-batters through 5-innings.

 

Pasen was perfect through the sixth, but was replaced by Great Lakes reliever Ricardo hernandez, who ran into trouble to start the seventh after giving up a lead off single to Dayton RF Raul Wallace, then walking Garcia, before Wallace eventually scored on a sac bunt, while Garcia was driven in on an RBI-single by Dragons second baseman Jeter Downs for a 3-2 Dayton lead in the top of the seventh inning.

 

Hernandez (0-1, BS1, 4.50 ERA) was charged with his first blown save, along with his first loss of the season after giving up 1-earned run on 2-hits and 2-walks, with 3-strikeouts through 2-innings of relief.

 

The Dragons added another run in the ninth when Garcia led off the inning with a single and moved all the way to third base when Loons closer Jasiel Alvino overthrew first base on a pick-off attempt, before Garcia scored on a passed-ball, which was charged to Miller Jr. for a 4-2 Dayton lead in the top of the ninth.

 

Alvino allowed just the single, while the run was unearned as he closed out the ninth for the Loons.

 

The Loons and Dragons will return for the second game of this 4-game home series at 7:05 pm right back here at Dow Diamond tomorrow night.