Lockwood-Powell completes cycle to beat Lugnuts

LANSING, Mich. – Griffin Lockwood-Powell completed the third cycle in Great Lakes Loons franchise history with a three-run go-ahead home run in the ninth inning, and the Loons (22-24, 67-44) rallied past the Lansing Lugnuts (19-27, 50-61), 7-5, in front of 8,203 on Friday night at Jackson® Field™.

Lockwood-Powell, a 2021 undrafted free agent from Central Michigan University, finished 4-for-5 with an RBI double against Lansing starter Jake Garland in the first inning, a strikeout in the third, an RBI single in the fifth, a triple in the eighth and – with one out and teammates Taylor Young at second and Alex Freeland at first – the game’s climactic swing off a 3-2 pitch from Pedro Santos in the ninth.

The Lugnuts took their first lead of the game at 4-2 with a three-run fourth inning against Loons reliever Adolfo Ramírez, featuring an RBI single from T.J. Schofield-Sam, an RBI double from Clark Elliott and an RBI single from Euribiel Ángeles.

After Lockwood-Powell’s RBI single brought the Loons within 4-3 in the fifth inning, a Schofield-Sam sacrifice fly plated Daniel Susac in the seventh for a 5-3 lead.

But Lockwood-Powell tripled and scored on a Nick Biddison sac fly in the eighth, setting up the catcher’s heroics in the ninth.

Lugnuts starter Garland struck out five batters in five innings in a no-decision, allowing three runs (two earned) on seven hits and a walk. Jack Owen followed with 1 2/3 scoreless innings, striking out one, followed by 2/3 of an inning from Christian Fernandez, charged with the eighth-inning run. Santos worked the next 1 1/3 innings before Brock Whittlesey recorded the final out of the ninth.

In the losing cause, Lansing right fielder Colby Thomas went 4-for-5 with two doubles, his second game in a three-day span with two doubles.

The Lugnuts and Loons have split the first four games of the six-game series, bringing them into the weekend. Saturday features a Big Lug Oakland Athletics-themed bobblehead giveaway and postgame LAFCU Fireworks. Gates open at 6 p.m. for the 7:05 p.m. contest. Tickets are available at the stadium box office, via lansinglugnuts.com or by calling (517) 485-4500.

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