Four-Run Fifth Propels Lansing over Great Lakes

The Great Lakes Loons put up the first multi-run inning of their series with the Lansing Lugnuts, scoring two runs in the fourth inning Wednesday night at Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich.

Lansing doubled that in the next frame.

The Lugnuts used a four-run fifth inning to power their way past a Loons staff that had shut them out just one night prior, scoring a 6-3 victory.

Lansing (45-65, 20-24 second half) opened the scoring in the second inning on no hits. Three walks from Robbie Peto loaded the bases and a wild pitch put the home side ahead, 1-0.

For the Loons (66-44, 26-18), it was the second night in a row where their starter allowed one run in somewhat tough-luck fashion. Peto was otherwise excellent, allowing just one hit and one run in his four frames. He walked four and struck out three.

Great Lakes, the Los Angeles Dodgers’ High-A partner, scored the first crooked number of the week in the fourth. Eddys Leonard led off the frame with a single before Jose Ramos hit a one-out triple to drive him in. Damon Keith then hit an RBI single to give the Loons their first lead, 2-1. Lansing reliever Daniel Martinez (W, 1-4) came in to record the final two outs of the frame.

It didn’t take long for the Lugnuts, High-A affiliate of the Oakland Athletics, to respond. Antonio Knowles (L, 3-4) came in to toss the fifth frame, and Sahid Valenzuela welcomed him to the contest with a single. Brayan Buelvas then went deep, his sixth homer of the season, to push Lansing back in front, 3-2. The next three batters would all reach, and two of them would score: Cooper Bowman singled, Denzel Clarke walked, then Joshwan Wright tripled them both home. Lansing left the fifth with a 5-2 lead.

The Lugnuts extended their advantage to 6-2 in the seventh inning. Clarke reached on an error, stole second and reached third on another error, then Max Muncy doubled to score the unearned run, the only run that scored against Ben Casparius. The Loons right-hander had an impressive 2 1-3 inning appearance, allowing a hit and a walk while punching out three batters.

Diego Cartaya led off the eighth inning with a solo homer, a lined shot that looped its way over the right field wall. It is the 21st homer for the No. 1 prospect in the Dodgers’ system this season and his 12th with Great Lakes. The Loons still trailed, 6-3.

Luis Yanel Diaz started the Loons’ ninth with a base hit, but no other batter reached against Calvin Coker (SV, 2), who picked up one strikeout in his inning.

Offensively, the Loons matched Lansing’s seven hits, but fell three runs short. Four of the Lugnuts’ seven hits came in their four-run fifth inning. Ramos was the lone Loon to register a multi-hit game, going 2-for-4 with a run and an RBI.

The Loons and Lugnuts each have won one game in the set, and Great Lakes holds an 11-9 lead in the season series. Game three of the six-game set is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. Thursday at Jackson Field. Carlos Duran (0-2, 4.25 ERA) takes the hill for the Loons, squaring off against fellow righty Joey Estes (2-5, 5.16 ERA) for Lansing. ESPN 100.9-FM kicks off pregame coverage with the Loons On-Deck Circle, driven by Garber Chevrolet Midland, at 6:50 p.m.

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.