Loons top Lugnuts, 8-5

MIDLAND, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (21-15) collected 13 hits in the first five innings, building an eight-run lead before holding off the Lansing Lugnuts (15-21), 8-5, on Thursday night at Dow Diamond.

Lansing catcher Jared McDonald swatted a 442-foot home run and Brayan Buelvas reached base four times on two walks, a single and a double, spearheading a late rally that ultimately fell short.

Lansing starter Osvaldo Berrios was under siege through the majority of his 5 2/3 innings, allowing an Ismael Alcántara two-run double in a three-run second, a Kekai Rios three-run homer in the third and an Eddys Leonard two-run single in the fifth.

Trailing 8-0 entering the seventh, the Nuts cut the deficit in half against relievers Carlos Alejo and Antonio Knowles. Marty Bechina (2-for-4) led off with a single and McDonald followed with a blast to center, his third home run of the season, to put the Lugnuts on the board. Patrick McColl drew a walk and Buelvas singled him to second, with both runners moving up on a Drew Swift foulout to first. A Knowles wild pitch brought in McColl and a Tyler Soderstrom groundout plated Buelvas, capping the rally.

In the ninth, the Lugnuts threatened again. McColl and Buelvas led off with walks against Ryan Sublette, putting McColl in position to score on a Swift single up the middle. With the tying run at home plate, however, Sublette struck out Austin Beck, Soderstrom and pinch-hitter Brett Harris to end the game.

Lansing’s offense struck out 18 times for the second straight night.

In defeat, Joe DeMers tossed 2 1/3 scoreless innings for the Lugnuts, allowing one hit.

Lefty Mac Lardner (10.13 ERA) starts the fourth game of the six-game set, opposed by Great Lakes right-hander Kendall Williams (6.30 ERA) at 6:05 p.m. Friday.

The next home game in Michigan’s state capital arrives May 31, when the Nuts welcome in the Cedar Rapids Kernels. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit lansinglugnuts.com or call (517) 485-4500.

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