Loons pick up first win of second half

The Great Lakes Loons snapped a four-game losing streak and won for the first time in the second half of the season Sunday afternoon, slugging their way past the Dayton Dragons 8-2.

In doing so, the Loons received contributions from some unexpected sources.

Travis Vetters received a rare start in right field and made the most of the opportunity, recording two hits and scoring three runs.

Daigoro Rondon (3-7) picked up the win for the Loons with 3 1/3 scorless innings of relief, striking out six. The outing was his first scoreless outing since firing six shutout frames at the Burlington Bees on April 13.

Kenley Jansen and Jovanny Rosario also chipped in two hits for the Loons.

The Loons struck first in the opening inning. Rosario singled to lead off the inning and stole second despite a Dayton pitchout. Francisco Lizarraga bunted Rosario to third. Then Andrew Lambo drove him in on a sacrifice fly to the warning track in left field.

But Keltavious Jones tied the game at 1-1 with a first-pitch solo home run.

The Loons re-took the lead in the top of the third at 2-1 on an RBI single by Rosario scoring Vetters, who had doubled. Then the Dragons re-tied the game in the bottom half of the inning on a ground out by Logan Parker. Later in the inning, Dayton made a bid to take the lead. With runners at first and second, Denis Phipps singled to center, but on the play Brandon Waring was gunned out at third, just before Parker crossed the plate, in the judgment of home plate umpire Phillip Henry.

Vetters’ seventh inning single gave the Loons a 3-2 lead. Jansen followed in the inning with a run-scoring hit. Brian Mathews tripled in the eighth to give the Loons a three-run lead. Great Lakes tacked on three runs in the top of the ninth against righty Curtis Partch.

Bryan Morris started for the Loons and allowed two runs in 3 2/3 innings and was on a strict pitch count in the game.

It was the Loons first win of the series after dropping the first three 8-7, 4-2, and 6-0.

The Loons begin a four-game series with the Lansing Lugnuts beginning on Monday. Game times for all four games of the series are 7:05 p.m. Steven Johnson (8-2, 2.60 ERA) will start for the Loons Monday and will be opposed by right-hander Trystan Magnuson (0-6, 6.80).