Back-to-Back Blasts Bolster Loons in Series Win

MIDLAND, Mich. – In the first 93 games of the Midwest League season, the Great Lakes Loons did not have back-to-back homers.

In their last three games, they’ve accomplished that feat twice.

Aldrich De Jongh and Luis Yanel Diaz left the yard in back-to-back at-bats in the fourth inning Sunday at Dow Diamond as the Loons defeated the Lansing Lugnuts, 4-1.

Lansing (37-59, 12-18 second half) got on the board first, leading off the third inning with an Alexander Campos home run, his second for the Lugnuts this season, to give the visitors a 1-0 lead. That was the only run allowed by Loons right-hander Ben Casparius (W, 1-1), who had his best appearance at the High-A level. Casparius tossed five innings of four-hit baseball, walking none while striking out seven.

Before Casparius, the Loons (58-38, 18-12) tossed lefty Ben Harris in a planned one-inning appearance. He struck out the side in order in the first.

Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A partner, responded to Lansing’s scoring right away in the bottom of the third inning. Eddys Leonard singled to begin the frame, and one out later, Jorbit Vivas tripled for the third time this season, driving in the tying run in Leonard. Alex De Jesus walked and was caught stealing after a second out in the inning, but caught in a designed play to allow Vivas to steal home at the same time. That put the Loons ahead, 2-1.

The Loons kept their momentum going in the fourth frame, putting up a pair on the aforementioned back-to-back home runs. For De Jongh, it was his sixth of the season. Diaz hit his first at the High-A level, and his 12th of the year, to give the Loons their final 4-1 margin.

The Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, was kept quiet after Casparius by another great bullpen outing from Great Lakes. Braydon Fisher allowed a hit in a scoreless seventh inning, then Cole Percival and Ryan Sublette (SV, 7) each tossed a scoreless frame with one walk apiece to confirm the victory for Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes bullpen had a spectacular week against the Lugnuts. Over the six games, 34 innings were tossed by relievers. In those innings, the Loons allowed just five runs, 10 walks and 21 hits while registering 48 strikeouts. The bullpen ERA for the week was a pristine 1.32.

Great Lakes wins the series against Lansing, four games to two, and holds a 10-8 advantage in the season series. The two in-state rivals wrap up their season set in Michigan’s state capital in a six-game series from August 16-21. The Loons hit the road to Classic Park in Eastlake, Ohio, taking on the Cleveland Guardians-affiliated Lake County Captains (51-42, 16-11). First pitch of the series is Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. Catch the action all week long on ESPN 100.9-FM, beginning at 6:50 p.m. Tuesday with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland.

The Great Lakes Loons have been a Single-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers since the team’s inception in 2007. Dow Diamond serves as the team’s home and also houses the Michigan Baseball Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit public charity, and ESPN 100.9-FM. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.