Lugnuts Win 2-1, Assisted by Three Loons Errors

Lansing, Mich. – The Great Lakes Loons (58-30) committed three errors, all costly in a 2-1 loss to the Lansing Lugnuts (41-47) on a 76-degree partly cloudy Saturday night at Jackson Field. With a third loss this week, the Loons' road series win streak that was 7-0 is snapped.

On offense tonight, Great Lakes left nine on base and 31 on base in the last three games. They stranded two in the third inning, where they scored their lone run. Three of their five hits came in the frame, three straight singles. Taylor Young slapped one up the middle and now has a four-game hit streak. Dalton Rushing rifled a 2-0 pitch 108 miles per hour into right field to put two runners on.

Damon Keith jolted an 0-1 pitch into left field, plating Young. After an error at third base, Lansing’s Jacob Watters worked around bases loaded, inducing the first of two double plays on the night from Loons' batters.

The second came with Great Lakes down 2-1 in the seventh inning. Taylor Young walked with one out to set up Dalton Rushing. The Dodgers No. 3 prospect grounded into his second double play of the week and of his season.

The Lugnuts only had one more hit than the Loons. Two in the second inning, where scored their first run. Junior Perez began the frame with a bunt single to the pitcher. Hyun-il Choi fielding fired wide of first moving Perez to second. Brennan Milone next-up mashed a double to left field making it 1-0. Choi in his first appearance since July 2nd, went 2.2 innings, striking out two.

Junior Perez began the fourth inning with a double, and Brennan Milone walked. A Eurbiel Angeles groundout to second put two in scoring position for Lansing against Adolfo Ramirez. The right-hander induced a groundball straight back from T.J. Schofield Sam. After a bobble, Ramirez raced it to first base low and wide permitting Perez to score.

The Lugnuts managed just one hit over the final four frames. Ramirez tossed a scoreless fifth and sixth, Jack Dreyer bounced back after a leadoff hit for a clean seventh, and Reinaldo De Paula needed just eight pitches for a 1-2-3 eighth inning.

Kumar Nambiar pitched the fifth and sixth allowing one baserunner, Chris Newell, who doubled. Christian Fernandez collected the final nine outs, a three-inning save. He walked three stranding two in the eighth, and faced the minimum in the ninth.

The series finale from Michigan’s capital is tomorrow Sunday, July 23rd. The first pitch is at 1:05 p.m, with a win the Loons would split the six games.

The Great Lakes Loons have been the 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.