Hit Parade Leads Loons over Lugnuts

Putting all of your starting nine on base over the course of the game? That’s a good sign.

Registering a base hit in eight of nine innings? Also a good sign.

Those signs pointed to a Great Lakes Loons victory, 5-1, over the Lansing Lugnuts at Jackson Field in Lansing, Mich.

Great Lakes (48-29, 8-3 second half) scored its first run in the top of the second inning with an Imanol Vargas solo blast, his 11th homer of the season. The Loons never trailed after that homer off of Lugnuts righty starter Daniel Martinez (L, 0-4), making his first start of the year after more than 20 appearances out of the bullpen.

The Loons, High-A partner of the Los Angeles Dodgers, extended their advantage in the fourth inning. Kekai Rios led off the frame with a double, then a walk and hit batsman loaded the bases. Jorbit Vivas drove in two with a two-out single, then Alex De Jesus followed that up with a run-scoring single, to give Great Lakes a 4-0 lead.

The Lugnuts (29-48, 4-7) got a run across in the fourth inning on a walk, a single and a sacrifice fly, but stranded runners on the corners in the inning. That frame finished up a solid start from Kendall Williams, who allowed four walks and two hits over his four innings, allowing one lone run and picking up a pair of punchouts.

Lansing, the Oakland Athletics’ High-A affiliate, and the Loons traded scoreless frames until the seventh, when Great Lakes pushed across another run. With the bases loaded and nobody out, Aldrich De Jongh singled to drive in a run and give the Loons the 5-1 advantage that would be the final score.

The Loons bullpen was dominant. It began with Ryan Sublette, who allowed a hit in his two frames, facing seven batters and striking out two. He was followed by Antonio Knowles (W, 3-3), who walked one, allowed one hit, and struck out the other six men he faced. Loons southpaw Julian Smith pitched a perfect ninth with one strikeout.

Great Lakes also had a great night on offense, despite scoring just five runs. Every player in the starting lineup reached base at least once, and their 13 hits came from eight different players. Vivas, Rios and Jose Ramos each tallied two-hit days, while De Jongh went 3-for-4. The Loons tied a season high by leaving 13 men on base, but it does not come back to bite them.

The Loons have now evened up the series at one game apiece, and the six-game set continues Thursday at Jackson Field. Right-handed starter Ben Casparius (0-0, 7.41 ERA) gets the start for Great Lakes, opposing Lansing righty Joey Estes (1-4, 4.94 ERA) for a 7:05 first pitch. On ESPN 100.9-FM, pregame coverage begins 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.