Liranzo Homers Twice in 3-1 Series Finale Win

DAYTON, Ohio. – The Great Lakes Loons (22-17) snapped a three-game losing skid with a strong pitching performance and a multi-homer game for Thayron Liranzo. A 3-1 win over the Dayton Dragons (18-21) on a sunny 83-degree Sunday afternoon at a full-capacity Day Air Ballpark.

Liranzo went deep to start the top of the sixth and eighth innings. Facing starter Jared Lyons for a third time, he belted a deep fly to right field 412 feet, and with a 110 mph exit velocity. It ended a scoreless inning streak of 16 innings for Lyons and tied the game at one.

The next homer was off left-handed reliever T.J. Sikkema. Liranzo ripped the first pitch he saw, 360 feet and 108 off the bat over the tall wall in left field. It gave the Loons a 2-1 advantage. The Dodgers No. 9 prospect homered from both sides of the plate for the first time in his MiLB career.

On the mound, five different pitchers went to work for the Loons. Peter Heubeck started for the second time this week, pitching four innings today permitting just one run. The right-hander on the week logged nine innings, allowing only three runs. A two-out RBI double from Jay Allen II scored Yan Contreras, who bunted aboard.

Franklin De La Paz tossed a clean fifth. Michael Martinez worked around a walk and a hit, getting a popup to close the sixth. Livan Reinoso needed just seven pitches to get through the seventh, and Kelvin Ramirez retired the final six batters. The right-hander induced a double play to end the eighth, and he maneuvered around hit by pitch and walk in the ninth.

Ramirez now has a 0.95 ERA in 19 innings. He earned the save, his fourth in five opportunites.

The Loons' insurance run was a Jake Gelof sac fly in the eighth to score Kyle Nevin, who reached on a single in the eighth. Before Liranzo’s homer in the sixth, Great Lakes left four on base.

Rounding Things Out

Thayron Liranzo hit 24 homers in the Cal League last season. He hit five following his first 20 games then, this year he has five in 31 games.

Up Next

The Loons return to Dow Diamond for a six-game series against the Beloit Sky Carp. The six-game series starts Tuesday, May 21st, with a School Kids Day game presented by Central Michigan University. The first pitch is at 11:05 am.

The Great Lakes Loons have been 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 Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt. For tickets or information about the Loons, call 989-837-BALL or visit Loons.com.