Lansing Blanks Loons for Third Time
MIDLAND, Mich. – When the Great Lakes Loons traveled to Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich., for a six-game series at the start of the month, the Lansing Lugnuts won four of the games, twice in shutout fashion. Tuesday night at Dow Diamond, they found that luck again. Three of the
MIDLAND, Mich. – When the Great Lakes Loons traveled to Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich., for a six-game series at the start of the month, the Lansing Lugnuts won four of the games, twice in shutout fashion.
Tuesday night at Dow Diamond, they found that luck again.
Three of the last four games the Loons have played against Lansing, they haven’t scored a run, after a 6-0 loss at home on Tuesday.
Lansing (36-55, 11-14 second half) got the scoring started in the first inning against Loons starter Ben Casparius (L, 0-1). Max Muncy doubled with one out in the frame, then was driven in with a Tyler Soderstrom single to put the visitors in front, 1-0.
The Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, doubled that advantage in the third on a solo homer from Soderstrom, his 18th of the year.
He didn’t have to wait long to hit homer no. 19, which came in his next at-bat. His two-run blast in the fifth put Lansing ahead 4-0, before a two-out, two-run double from Kevin Richards later in the frame extended the Lugnuts’ lead to 6-0, the score which would be the final.
Meanwhile, Great Lakes (54-37, 14-11) was stymied by Lansing righty Jake Walkinshaw (W, 2-0). The Southern New Hampshire product tossed five frames of scoreless baseball, allowing three hits and a walk while striking out seven.
The Loons, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, had great relief work in the final three frames. Adam Scoggins tossed a scoreless inning with a hit and a strikeout. Aldry Acosta picked up a pair of strikeouts in the eighth inning, allowing just one baserunner. In the ninth, Antonio Knowles struck out the side in order.
At the plate, the Loons had six hits from six different players. The lone hit for extra bases was a double from Luis Diaz for his first hit at the High-A level.
Lansing now takes a lead in the season series, seven games to six, and the Lugnuts lead this six-game set 1-0. The Loons have dropped five of six games for the first time since a stretch from April 15-20. The six-game series continues Wednesday night at Dow Diamond at 7:05 p.m., with pregame coverage beginning on ESPN 100.9-FM at 6:50 p.m. 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.