Early runs give Loons back-to-back wins

The Great Lakes Loons struck for five runs in the top half of the first inning Tuesday and never looked back, defeating the Peoria Chiefs in the first of a four-game series by a score of 10-2.

The Loons’ offensive outburst in the first frame was highlighted by homers by Eduardo Perez and Josh Bell. Perez’s shot was a three-run homer to deep right field, while Bell’s blast was to straight-away center on the very next pitch. Francisco Lizarraga continued the inning with a run-producing single to left.

A Juan Rivera double in the fourth inning gave the Loons a 6-0 lead, and Adolfo Gonzalez followed in the fifth inning with a two-run triple to make the score 8-0. Trayvon Robinson added an RBI single in the fifth to make it 9-0. Bell followed with an RBI single for the Loons in the sixth inning.

Paul Coleman picked up the win for the Loons, allowing one run in 6 1/3 innings. The win is the second in a row for the Loons, the first time the team has won back-to-back games since early July.

Carlos Santana walked twice and scored twice but was the lone hitless Loon, snapping an 11-game hitting streak. Matt Berezay had four hits, two for doubles. Perez and Bell had three hits each.

The Chiefs, still in position for a second-half Midwest League West playoff berth, have lost four in a row and seven of their last eight.

A box score of Tuesday’s game is available at milb.com.