Simpson hits grand slam, but Loons sweep two
LANSING, Mich. – Ten days after slugging a grand slam in the Crosstown Showdown, Will Simpson launched another grand slam – but it did not prevent the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5) from a 12-1, 8-5 doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Great Lakes Loons (5-3) on Saturday afternoon at Jackson®
LANSING, Mich. – Ten days after slugging a grand slam in the Crosstown Showdown, Will Simpson launched another grand slam – but it did not prevent the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5) from a 12-1, 8-5 doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Great Lakes Loons (5-3) on Saturday afternoon at Jackson® Field™.
In Game 1, Great Lakes shortstop Noah Miller knocked a two-run first-inning homer off Luis Carrasco and Chris Newell added a three-run shot in the fifth off Jose Dicochea to back the pitching of Jared Karros in a Loons victory.
A day after Loons pitchers walked 10 Lugnuts in a 9-3 loss, Karros tossed five walkless innings, striking out six and limiting Lansing to a first-inning tally on a Simpson RBI double.
Great Lakes turned the game into a rout with six runs on seven hits against Jack Owen in the seventh inning.
The Loons finished the game with five doubles, one triple and two homers, with Newell and Kyle Nevin each collecting a pair of doubles.
Game 2 looked like a second consecutive easy victory for the visitors, who brought an 8-0 lead to the bottom of the seventh. But reliever Joel Ibarra loaded the bases with two walks and an HBP, then struck Henry Bolte in the head with a pitch to force in a run. (Bolte rose to his feet soon after and departed due to injury precaution.) Simpson cranked the very next pitch out to left-center, collecting his first home run of the season and bringing the Lugnuts within 8-5.
A walk to Jonny Butler ended Ibarra’s game, and Danny Bautista, Jr. greeted new reliever Brandon Neeck with a single to right field, bringing the potential game-tying run to the plate. But Neeck retired Euribiel Ángeles on a groundout to second, preserving the win.
In the loss, Lansing starter Wander Guante struck out five batters in four innings while allowing only one hit: a wind-aided Luis Rodriguez solo home run.
One game remains in the six-game homestand, the first Capital City Market Kids Day of the year. Gates open at 12 noon for a 1:05 p.m. start between Lugnuts right-hander Blaze Pontes and Loons northpaw Christian Romero. Tickets are available for purchase at the Jackson® Field™ box office, available for purchase at (517) 485-4500 or online at milb.com/lansing.
# # #