Loons Sweep Lugnuts in Twin Bill, Great Lakes Combines for 20 runs

LANSING, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (5-3) grabbed two games from the Lansing Lugnuts (3-5) by the scores of 12-1 and 8-5, a Great Lakes offensive bludgeoning on a 55-degree sunny Saturday at Jackson ® Field.

In game one, the Loons delivered their best offensive performance of the season, 12 runs and 15 hits. Great Lakes had five doubles, a triple, and two long balls, all game-highs in 2024. Chris Newell, notched six RBI, a career-high, and one off the franchise record for a single game.

Noah Miller started things with a two-run home run in the first inning off Lugnuts starter Luis Carrasco, his first of the year. In the third inning, Chris Newell started his tremendous day with an RBI double to deep center, driving in Kyle Nevin, who also doubled. A three-spot was posted in the fifth, Newell first pitch swinging with two-on and one-out put it over the right field wall.

Insurance came in a big way in the seventh, with the Loons matching their run total up to that point in the seventh. Six runs all off Lansing’s Jack Owen. Three straight doubles, Nevin, Miller, and Newell. Newell’s driving in two. After two outs, Great Lakes rattled off four straight hits. Yunior Garcia, Nelson Quiroz, and Sam Mongelli all with a baseknock.

Alex Freeland cleared the bases, scoring two with the first triple for Great Lakes this year. Freeland had two three-baggers of his 28 extra-base hits in 106 games in 2023.

The Lugnuts managed just one run, the only run on Jared Karros's second straight fifth-inning start and win. After a first-inning two-out two-strike double by Will Simpson, Karros sat down the next 10 he faced. The right-hander punched out six with no walks.

Game Two was a retread of game one for the first six and a half innings. Luis Rodriguez, first at-bat of the day was an opposite-field solo homer to put the Loons on the board in the third inning. A four-run fourth and three-run sixth gave the Loons an 8-0 lead. Dodgers No. 30 prospect Peter Heubeck struck out a career-high eight in five shutout innings.

Jordan Thompson delivered two runs, an RBI single in the fifth and an RBI double in the sixth. A Noah Miller sac fly and Chris Newell double abetted the cause and gave each a RBI in both contests.

Down to their final out, six straight Lugnuts kept the hope alive for Lansing. Colby Halter was hit by a Joel Ibarra pitch to put runners on the corners. A walk and another hit batsmen plated a run. Will Simpson, then stepped up and smoked a grand slam to deep left field. Brandon Neeck entered, and although the potential tying runner reached, a groundout ended things.

Rounding Things Out

Chris Newell’s six runs batted in was the first time a Loon has had six RBI or more since Jose Ramos drove in seven on July 12th, 2022, at Quad Cities. Ryan Ward on August 24th, 2021, at Lake County was the last time a Great Lakes Loon has had exactly six RBI in one game.

Up Next

The Loons leading 3-2 in the series, go for their first six-game series win tomorrow Sunday, April 14th. First pitch between Great Lakes and Lansing is at 1:05 p.m. Coverage starts at 12:50 p.m. on Sports Radio 100.9 The Mitt.

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.