Caleb Ferguson allowed no runs and only one hit with a walk and five strikeouts in the Loons second shutout in as many games. The Loons now lead the best-of-five Midwest League Championship Series two games to one. (Photo courtesy of @Im_Ferg)

The Great Lakes Loons on Saturday, for the first time in five games, were playing a playoff game in the friendly confines of Dow Diamond. They had a much needed day off on Friday after having played four games on the road, two against the West Michigan Whitecaps in Comstock Park and two against the LumberKings in Clinton, Iowa.

The Loons split two games with the LumberKings, taking a 16-6 drubbing, and responding with a 4-0 shutout in the second game marking the first time the Great Lakes franchise had recorded a shutout in post season play.

On Saturday the Loons faced another challenge with the LumberKings as right-hander Kevin Gadea was the mound opponent for the Seattle Mariners affiliate. Gadea, from Nicaragua and a friend of Loons left-hander Leonardo Crawford who is also from Nicaragua, posted a 2.15 ERA in 2016 in 50.1 innings pitched while striking out an impressive 72 batters and walking 11 with a 1.03 WHIP. His best pitch is his change-up.

Left-hander Caleb Ferguson was tabbed as the Loons starter in their first ever playoff game at Dow Diamond. The 20-year-old native of West Jefferson, Ohio pitched 50.1 innings in 2016 with the Loons, the exact number of innings as his counterpart with the LumberKings. He struck out 41 and walked an unbelievable three. Again, identical to Gadea, Ferguson had a 1.03 WHIP.

Through five innings the teams had played to a scoreless tie. Gadea had given up two doubles but the Loons stranded a runner on second base in both the third and fourth inning. Caleb Ferguson gave up no hits over his first four innings and was successful in weathering three infield fielding errors.

The LumberKings opened the fifth inning with an infield single and with two outs Caleb Ferguson was pulled by manager Gil Velazquez with his pitch count at 75. Over 4.2 innings he given up one hit, no runs, walked one and struck out five. He was relieved by right-hander Andrew Istler who retired second baseman Chris Mariscal on a fly out to right field.

With one out in the sixth inning Clinton’s starter still had a very manageable pitch count at 76 but had walked two Loons hitters and his manager came out to take the ball from him. His line for the night was 5.2 innings giving up two doubles, no runs, two walks, two HBP and eight strikeouts.

Right-hander Joey Strain relieved Kevin Gadea with two runners on. DJ Peters promptly lined an opposite field double to right field driving in the first run of the game. Peters was quickly followed by third baseman Zach McKinstry who doubled to left field driving in two more runs. Catcher Stevie Berman, having a great night at the plate, put the Loons up 4-0 with a line drive single to center field.

Andrew Istler and closer Shea Spitzbarth shut down the LumberKings the rest of the way. For the second game in a row the Loons shut out Clinton 4-0 holding them to three hits and one walk in each games.

The fourth game in the series will be played at Dow Diamond on Sunday with the Loons needing just one more win to become the Midwest League Champions for the first time.

Game time is 2:05 ET with coverage of the game provided by announcers Chris Vosters and Brad Tunney on ESPN 100.9-FM and Loons.com.