September 13th, 2016 at 6:00 am 
by Harold Uhlman 
In spite of a 2-for-5 night with a double and two runs scored by Loons DH Saige Jenco, the Great Lakes fell to the West Michigan Whitecaps by a score of 5-3 on Monday night to force a deciding Game-3 in the Eastern Division Championship Series. (Photo courtesy of the Great Lakes Loons)
The Great Lakes Loons most likely had a better night’s sleep Sunday night than they did on Saturday night. The Loons traveled all the way from Bowling Green, Kentucky after their Saturday game with the Hod Rods, arriving home in Midland, Michigan at 8:30 am. After a period of rest, they had to report to Dow Diamond to prepare for their second round-playoff game with the West Michigan Whitecaps. The Whitecaps had eliminated the South Bend Cubs earlier in the day on Saturday and had a bus ride of just over three hours to get to Midland from South Bend, Indiana.
In their game with the Whitecaps on Sunday the Loons bats started slowly collecting only two hits through the first five innings of the game. However, with patience, they did draw three walks and drove up the pitch count for Whitecaps starter Eudis Idrogo to 91 through his five innings and forcing him from the game.
Although the Loons did not exactly feast on the Whitecaps relievers they out hit West Michigan 5-3 and outscored them 3-0 in the final four innings.
Loons starter Caleb Ferguson and relievers Ivan Vieitez and Shea Spitzbarth struck out 12 Whitecaps and issued no free passes with Spitzbarth striking out the side in the top of the ninth inning.
Unfortunately, right fielder Luke Raley was placed back on the 7-day DL following the game. However, Ogden Raptors post season all-star outfielder DJ Peters was added to the Loons active roster and penciled in to start in right field.
Left-hander Victor Gonzalez drew the starting assignment for the Loons on Monday. The 20-year-old native of Tuxpan, Veracruz, Mexico has been an important part of the Loons pitching staff in 2016 but also has been a bit over looked among a number of more high profile teammates. On the season Gonzalez posted a 3.61 ERA through 94.2 innings giving up 79 hits while striking out 104. He did walk 44.
In two starts against the Whitecaps in 2016 Gonzalez pitched 11 innings giving up eight hits and three runs while striking out 17 with no walks.
Whitecaps starter right-hander Sandy Baez also had two starts against the Loons and pitched 11 innings. He too gave up eight hits and three runs along with 13 strikeouts and two walks. Through 113 innings on the season he posted a 3.81 ERA with 88 strikeouts and 28 walks.
The Loons opened quickly in the first inning with leadoff hitter Saige Jenco beating out an infield hit. He came around to score on a ground out and an opposite field single to right field by second baseman Omar Estevez.
West Michigan started even more quickly with two singles, a passed ball, and another single scoring two runs. The Whitecaps followed with a fourth straight hit and a walk. With the bases loaded and one out Gonzalez was able to get the much needed double play.
Whitecaps starter Sandy Baez was definitely dealing with a fastball that touched 99 mph. Through two innings four Loons went down on strikes, three of them swinging.
In the bottom of the second inning the Whitecaps kept the pressure on opening the inning with a bunt single by left fielder Cam Gibson who scored on a long double by right fielder Joey Havrilak. A fourth run came in on a bunt down the first base line by second baseman Will Maddox. The Whitecaps then made it 5-1 on a double by first baseman Will Allen.
Loons manager Gil Velazquez finally removed Gonzalez from the game replacing him with right-hander Dean Kremer who quickly retired the side.
The Loons got two runs back in the top of the third inning on a double by Saige Jenco and a pair of singles by Brendon Davis and Ibandel Isabel making the score a more respectable 5-3. That ended the scoring for the night.
Dean Kremer shut down the Whitecaps through his 3.2 innings giving up four hits and striking out two. Right-hander Tony Gonsolin followed Kremer in the bottom of the sixth inning and completed his three innings giving up just one hit.
Whitecaps starter Baez followed his shaky third inning holding the Loons to one hit over the next five innings while protecting his 5-3 lead. With two out in the top of the eighth inning, still lighting up the radar gun at 98 mph, he walked Logan Landon and was replaced by left-hander Trent Szkutnik who recorded the third out.
Right-hander Mark Ecker closed out the ninth inning for the Whitecaps
The deciding game in the Eastern Division Championship Series will be placed on Tuesday at 6:35 ET at Fifth Third Ballpark in Comstock Park with coverage provided by announcers Chris Vosters and Brad Tunney on ESPN 100.9-FM and Loons.com.
Posted in 
Unfortunately Gonzalez’s poor start will tax the Loons bullpen tonight.
As bad as last night’s start was for the Loons, they came within a hit of tying the score in the third inning. After that Baez simply was dominant.
Go Loons!
Look for D.J. to have a BIG game tonight.
I was thinking that last night. I think he pressed a bit too hard swinging really hard last night. Right-hander tonight and he has handled right-hand pitching well. Also maybe not 98 mph.
Fantastic game. Tremendous relief pitching, especially from Istler and Spitzbarth. Alveraz was effective but a bit unfortunate due to a McKinstry throwing error. He was not lockdown tonight. Good late inning clutch hitting from both Davis and Estevez who had a two run HR to take the lead.
The Loons remain hot and now play the Clinton Lumberjacks Mariners organization) for the Midwest League Championship.
Absolutely fantastic. Five rus scored in the last three innings. Estevez home run off Drew Smith who is almost unhittable was the most important Loon home run ever, second to his grand slam in that 11-10 comeback win.
Brendon Davis is becoming quite a player. Making good plays and hitting .360 in the playoffs. Clutch hits.
Shea Spitzbarth has an interesting story.
https://thinkbluela.com/2015/07/dodgers-sign-right-hander-shea-spitzbarth-as-undrafted-free-agent/
I didn’t dream the Loons relievers could match up to West Michigan’s. The team is very confident now.
Best of five with Clinton – last three scheduled at home.
I wonder who will replace Jose Santos. I expect they have to bring someone from a lower level up and no one down from a higher level. I’m thinking Zac Grotz but he pitched on Sunday.
It might be tough to bring someone up form AZL. There season was over two weeks+ ago. Walker Buehler was reassigned to AZL after his 2 innings on Saturday. That may be an innings thing, satisfied with what he has done in the few appearances he did have. Grotz would be the most logical (and probably only one really considered) to be assigned from Ogden. Maybe Mitchell White from Rancho. He last pitched 9/7. But he has had a lot of innings this year, considering Santa Clara.
AC – I thought of White but I am not sure if a player can be brought down from a higher level during the playoffs. That would probably be considered to be stacking the team.
I think Buehler was assigned to AZL so Meza could be brought back after he had been assigned to AZL. I expect Buehler will be back if needed and someone else assigned to AZL.I think perhaps it’s a way to expand the minor league roster.