Loons lose lead then game

Felix Carrasco wowed fans at Dow Diamond on June 16 by winning the 2008 All-Star Home Run Derby. Carrasco wowed his home fans Sunday with a game-winning home run to give the Great Lakes Loons a heartbreaking loss.

The switch-hitting Dominican drilled a line drive home run off the Memorial Stadium scoreboard in the bottom of the ninth inning to give the Fort Wayne Wizards a 4-3, comeback win over the Loons.

Fort Wayne trailed 3-0 through 7 ½ innings. With Cal Stanke on the mound, Robert Perry singled home Andy Parrino for the Wizards’ first run of the game. Blevins entered from the bullpen and surrendered an RBI double to Luis Durango to plate Perry and an RBI single to Brad Chalk to bring home Durango with the game-tying run.

With the game tied 3-3, Blevins (2-7) retired the first two batters of the ninth with ease and was ahead in the count to Carrasco before the home run.

Josh Lindblom started for the Loons and was in line for his first professional win before the Wizards’ half of the eighth. He allowed only one hit in five scoreless innings, facing one batter over the minimum.

Wizards’ starter Cory Luebke faced the minimum through three innings before the Loons dented the scoreboard in the fourth. Andrew Lambo singled home his 74th run of the year scoring Erik Kanaby. The next inning, Francisco Lizarraga laid down a squeeze bunt to score Jessie Mier from third. The Loons took a 3-0 lead in the seventh on a sac fly by Alfredo Silverio, which scored Brandon Taylor, who reached base on a triple.

After Justin Miller nearly tossed a no-hitter in a 3-2 loss to West Michigan Friday night, the Loons regrouped to take a 7-6 win in the opener against Fort Wayne Saturday.

The Loons continue their four-game series in Fort Wayne Monday evening at 7 p.m. Right-hander Juan Cedeno (0-0, 3.00 ERA) will make his second start for the Loons. His opponent will be righty Jeremy Hefner (8-4, 3.38).