Cheaper by the Dozen: Loons Score 12 Runs for Third Straight Game

LANSING, Mich. – Three times against the Lansing Lugnuts this season, the Great Lakes Loons couldn’t buy a run.

Over the most recent three games at Jackson Field, they’ve bought them by the dozen.

For the third straight game, the Loons scored 12 runs Saturday against Lansing, defeating the Lugnuts, 12-1.

Lansing (45-68, 20-27 second half) pushed the first run across in the third inning. Jared McDonald singled to lead off the frame, then with two outs, Denzel Clarke tripled him home. The Lugnuts took a 1-0 lead at that point.

For the Loons (69-44, 29-18), the other four innings pitched by righty Emmet Sheehan (W, 7-2) were perfect. Sheehan tossed five frames, allowing just the two hits and one earned run and did not walk a batter. He also struck out 11, a new season-high by a Loons pitcher, surpassing the 10-strikeout mark set by him, Nick Nastrini and Kyle Hurt.

Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A partner, was held off the board in the first four frames, but scored in the next four. With two outs in the fifth inning, Luis Yanel Diaz singled to lead off the frame, followed by a Jorbit Vivas walk. The first pitch to Diego Cartaya in the inning was drilled deep over the left-center field fence, giving the Loons a lead they would not relinquish, at that point 3-1.

Imanol Vargas then doubled, took second on a passed ball, and scored on an Eddys Leonard single, putting the visitors ahead, 4-1.

The Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, sent Kyle Virbitsky (L, 1-1) out for two batters in the sixth inning, then pulled the plug. He finished with five innings, allowing six hits, six runs (five earned) and two walks while striking out five.

In the top of the sixth inning, Damon Keith singled before exiting the game, replaced by pinch runner Harold Restituyo. Austin Gauthier walked against Virbitsky before he was removed. A pair of fielder’s choices scored Restituyo and replaced Gauthier with Diaz, who got the RBI for the first run in the frame. He stole second and took third on a wild pitch before Cartaya drove him in with a two-out single. The Loons took a 6-1 lead into the bottom half.

Between the top of the sixth and the bottom, rain began to fall and the Lansing grounds crew put the tarp on the field. A 37-minute rain delay followed before the tarp was removed and play resumed in the bottom of the sixth inning.

The Loons offense picked up where it left off. Aldrich De Jongh and Diaz both drove in runs in the seventh inning on a single and double, respectively, before they both scored on a Vivas triple. A second four-run frame gave the Loons a 10-1 advantage.

Great Lakes made it a dozen in the eighth inning. Max Hewitt pinch-hit for Leonard and drew a walk to lead off the frame before Jose Ramos doubled to put two in scoring position. Hewitt scored on a Restituyo single, Ramos scored on a double play ball, and the Loons had their final margin of 12-1.

Sheehan came out of the game after five innings partially because of the rain delay – he may have gotten the chance to pitch into the sixth without a delay. Instead, Aldry Acosta pitched the sixth and seventh scoreless, allowing just one hit while striking out a batter. Julian Smith came in for the final two frames, keeping the Lugnuts off the board as well. He punched out a pair while allowing a hit and the lone Loons walk.

On the hitting side, nine of the 10 Loons to have an at-bat had a hit, and all 11 batters that came to the plate reached. Vivas, Cartaya, Vargas, Ramos and Diaz all had two-hit performances.

Great Lakes has clinched a series victory, leading the set four games to one, and they lead the season series 14-9 with one final game to play. That game is scheduled for 1:05 p.m. Sunday at Jackson Field. Right-hander Ryan Sublette (7-1, 3.42 ERA) makes a spot start for Great Lakes, opposing Lansing lefty Jack Owen (4-1, 2.63 ERA). Catch the action on ESPN 100.9-FM beginning at 12:50 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.