Early Onslaught Leads Lansing Over Loons

The Great Lakes Loons have been one of the most prolific offenses since the second half of the Midwest League season began, scoring nearly eight runs per game.

So naturally, on Thursday night at Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich., they were held to one run by the team with the highest ERA in the MWL.

The Lansing Lugnuts established momentum early and never lost it, defeating the Loons, 10-1.

Lansing (30-48, 5-6 second half) hit the ground running in the first inning, thanks to a two-run triple from top prospect Tyler Soderstrom and an RBI double from Jared McDonald. The home side scored three runs off of right-handed opener Cole Duensing (L, -3) and that’s all they would need.

The Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, didn’t stop there. They pushed across a pair in the second frame off of Ben Casparius, the scheduled tandem starter, and got another three in the third on a Joshwan Wright three-run bomb, his first of the year with Lansing. After three innings, the Lugnuts had an 8-0 lead.

After that, Casparius settled in somewhat, tossing three scoreless innings for the first five-inning appearance of his career. His final line read five frames, six hits, five earned runs, one walk and four strikeouts.

The Loons (48-30, 8-4), meanwhile, could not find success against right-handed starter Joey Estes (W, 2-4), who tossed five scoreless frames with four hits, three walks and six strikeouts. Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A partner, loaded the bases in the first and third innings, but came up empty both times.

Lansing extended its advantage in the seventh with two unearned runs against Adam Scoggins on one hit and two walks. Jacob Cantleberry came in to end the frame, stranding two inherited runners and spinning 1 1-3 perfect frames to end the ballgame, picking up three strikeouts as well.

In the ninth inning, the Loons finally got on the board. Eddys Leonard led off the frame with a double, his MWL-leading 21st of the year, then Imanol Vargas doubled him home, and that gave Great Lakes its one run in a 10-1 loss.

Of the Loons’ six hits, Alex De Jesus had two in a 2-for-4 day, while Leonard went 2-for-3. The bottom four hitters in the Loons order went a combined 0-for-14.

The Lugnuts now take a 2-1 lead in the six-game series, which continues Friday at 7:05 p.m. at Jackson Field. Right hander Carlos Duran (0-0, 0.00 ERA) toes the rubber for the Loons, opposing Lansing lefty Jack Owen (0-0, 5.14 ERA). Pregame coverage begins with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 6:50 p.m. on ESPN 100.9-FM.

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.